1,000 holiday turkeys given to needy in Merced, Los Banos

Hundreds of Los Banos residents lined the streets near the fairgrounds Tuesday morning, waiting to get a free Thanksgiving turkey.

Greg Hostetler, a farmer and developer in Merced, gave away 1,000 turkeys and packages of almonds this week to those in need in Merced and Los Banos. In the last four years, Hostetler has grown the event in honor of his late wife, Cathie, who started the tradition of giving away turkeys more than 30 years ago.

“It’s the right thing to do,” Hostetler said. “(Cathie) was a giving person, and she taught me this was the right thing to do.”

Kathy Lawrence, 66, waited in line longer than anyone, arriving at the Los Banos Fairgrounds about 1 a.m. The Los Banos woman came with a group of friends, all seniors, to wait for their Thanksgiving turkeys. Lawrence and her friends were the first in line.

“I want to thank Mr. Hostetler for this,” Lawrence said. “With the economy, it’s really hard on a lot of us. Social Security is limited. We appreciate this. Gosh, it’s so wonderful.”

Lawrence plans to serve her the turkey at an intimate Thanksgiving dinner with her daughter and two grandchildren. She said the Hostetler event was the only opportunity for a single, senior woman to get a turkey.

The O’Banion Auditorium at the fairgrounds opened about 7:30 a.m. so those waiting in line could sit down and use the restrooms. Children played while adults visited, and about 20 volunteers set up an assembly line outside as it began sprinkling.

Joe James Jr., 63, returns each year as a volunteer for the event. “I just like seeing people happy when they come out and seeing the smile on their faces,” he said.

Other volunteers included Jerry O’Banion, District 5 Supervisor for Merced County; county Sheriff Vern Warnke and Los Banos Mayor Mike Villalta.

Aisha Murphy, 34, was all smiles after she got her turkey. She said the father of her six children was murdered in March, and she’s out of work. “It’s hard,” Murphy said. “This turkey means a whole lot.”

After getting a turkey, Amelia Rodriguez hugged Hostetler and read him a Bible scripture: “There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away,” Rodriguez, 56, read from the Book of Revelation.

“I wanted to share that with him because my daughter passed away,” Rodriguez said. “I could feel what he has felt.”

This story was originally published November 24, 2015 at 4:27 PM with the headline "1,000 holiday turkeys given to needy in Merced, Los Banos."