Permian Basin Mission Center gives away free turkeys

ODESSA, Texas (KOSA) – With Thanksgiving less than a week away, many people are finishing their shopping and getting ready to cook, but some residents need help to make sure they can also have a table full of food for the holiday.

For the past 26 years, the Permian Basin Mission Center has held their annual Thanksgiving Box Give Away, and this year was no different.

On November 21, from 8 A.M. to 12 P.M., the Permian Basin Mission Center gave out 400 turkeys.

Along with a turkey, the mission center also gives a box full of Thanksgiving sides to the household, like stuffing, mashed potatoes and cranberries.

“All the things a person would like to have at a traditional Thanksgiving dinner, to include a 12 to 16 pound turkey,” said Hank Herrick, the Executive Director for the Permian Basin Mission Center.

The mission center says they start planning for this event in September and the week before 400 families sign up to receive a box.

“Last week, for three days, we stood out on the sidewalk and we would vet clients. All we needed was an identification and a utility bill and we do that to ensure we get one turkey box for each household, but that’s as simple as it is. They come inside, we process them and they get a free turkey box ticket and they leave,” Herrick said.

The day of, the center starts organizing everything at 5 A.M. and their eight staff members, a group of volunteers and two Odessa Police Department officers make sure everything runs smoothly.

They say they hear many grateful thank yous and see lots of smiling faces.

“You hear it from some of those that are coming in today, that say hey we would not be able to do this without the help from the mission center. That’s why we’re here, to be able to provide that,” said Scott Smiley, the President of the Permian Basin Mission Board.

The mission center says this is part of their goal to serve as many families as they can.

“We see a need in the community all year long. Non-profits help fill that gap,” Herrick said.

In the year 2024, they served over 17,000 people by providing free food and clothing, and helping with rent and utilities bills.