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[BEGINVIDEO 2194]
More than 1,000 people got turkeys at the annual giveaway.
[ENDVIDEO]
This morning's James Brown Turkey Giveaway was a first.
After almost 20 years of giving out turkeys, Monday's giveaway was the first time no one was turned away, said Deanna Brown Thomas, Mr. Brown's daughter and the president of the Brown Family Foundation.
"We've never had it like that," she said shortly after the last turkey was granted. "It says a lot, especially since it's a recession. When you ask God to bless, you have to be ready to take that blessing."
Close to 1,200 turkeys were donated, and more than 1,000 people walked away with the birds.
Joan "Candy" Iles carried her turkey up on her shoulder with a smile Monday morning after a two-hour wait. The short-statured mother of five has benefited from the giveaway for about four years, she said.
"They are going to tear this bird up," Ms. Iles said about her family. "It's something that blesses me so much. I'm looking for a job, and I would have had something to eat on Thanksgiving, but nothing like this."
The Rev. Al Sharpton and others lined up early this morning to hand out the turkeys. Shawn Thomas, Mrs. Brown's husband, handed out fish plates from his restaurant, DeShawn's, to those waiting in the line that stretched out to the end of D'antignac Street. Several others contributed to the event including the Suwanee Quintet, which performed outside for the awaiting crowd.
Rev. Sharpton said the great response from the community in making the giveaway happen this year is a testament to Mr. Brown's legacy.
"He never forgot where he came from, and his children and grandchildren remember that," Rev. Sharpton said. "As long as God's smiling on us, we'll find away to make it happen."
Yamma Brown, the music icon's daughter, said she was impressed with the community's donations this year.
"It's not about the celebrities. It's about the people, and the people really stepped up to the plate this year," she said. "It's a blessing to see what dad started almost 20 years ago is still going strong."
The turkey and the smiling faces handing them out brighten Brenda Story's day. She said she started the year homeless, and by Christmas she'll be moving into a new home. The turkey gave her one more reason to be thankful, Ms. Story said.
"It just makes you feel good and thank God," she said. "James' vision is still here. He's gone, but, in a way, he's still here."
Comments
who cares!
well ms. brown...did you open up that pocketbook and put some reality into the "Brown" give away?
So much HATE and it's not even 10 AM...
Justus, I"ll see u there. Im thankful all those white folk donated them birds. Keep paying taxes to keep everybody going who refuses to work, so they can continue to complain about the white man.
not hate notrealy...the "real deal".....,.I call as I see it. deal with it.
Will the Brown family acknowledge that the turkeys are really donated by local folks in memory of her father?
More HATE and it's not even 11 AM... WOW...
here's more "hate" for you notreally, about a 1/4 of the ones that get those turkeys turn around and sell 'em. What they buy with the money, I'll leave to your imagination. Really man, chill out.
Hatred? Really? Sounds more like cynicism to me.
I find those who try to denigrate this event to be disgusting. JB had a big heart and the bank roll putt it to good use and did. I believe he had a Christmas give away as well that made a lot of poor kids happy as well. There will be some families with a turkey that would not otherwise enjoy our day of thanksGIVING.
omnomnom ummm how do you know that did you buy one? did you do a survey or something, do you know that for a fact GEEZ. And yes it's HATE on your part. And talk about imigination yours is way out there if you think that LOL... OMG
Well said jack, it shows your heart's in the right place. I support this event as well as it shows Augusta and the memory of James Brown in a favorable light.
I don't think there is anything wrong with this turkey giveaway, but I think in order to qualify, you should be needy, but not already on food stamps. If you have food stamps, you don't need the free turkey. There has to be a lot of people fitting that criteria. We are going to have a nice, but cheaper Thanksgiving ourselves this year.
Justass keeps having to change his name, because he keeps getting ingnored.
Well said butler123.
butler123, how are you going to put restrictions on something that's being done for free?? The Brown Foundation gets donations and tries to do a good thing in the community but people like you are always throwing rocks and trying to find something wrong with the program. If you don't agree with the way they administer the program, then don't volunteer or donate, which I doubt you or the other haters do anyway.
Wonder how much of the costs really came out of the Brown "foundation"?
Wow! I really wasn't trying to throw rocks. I think it is a good thing, would just like to see the true needy people benefit from it is all. Personally I like to give to the food drives, I don't believe there are a lot of people showing up at soup kitchens that don't need to. You don't always know how money gets spent, but what can they do with food, except to feed people with it. I'll bet I donate more than you do DMac.
I'm thankful that the James Brown legacy has continued. Many families depend on this event. Many may ridicule this event but who knows who's next in line. Just because you're financially able this year, count your blessings. I wish and pray that everyone has a warm meal this Thanksgiving. an event like this is not something to take lightly. I doesn't matter what the individual does with the turkey, what matters is that he/she had one.
onlyaugusta thanks for such an inspirational message. I am glad that everyone in line received a turkey and that no one had to be turned away.
To onmonnom:
How many turkeys have you bought?
You are the only person on here that seems to know what the recipients are doing with the turkeys,
ENJOY
Mother of five has received a turkey for the last four years!? How long has she been lookin' for that job? Busy makin' all of those kids doesn't leave much time for work, i guess! Those poor children will be standin' in line when they're old enough to carry one off, too. Sad cycle that people have become content with. I said content, so keep the "why would anybody want to live that life" comments to yourself. It's the truth.
I don't think people will be selling turkeys, I hope that everyone that needed one, got one. I'm thankful we can buy one. I'm thankful we will still be able to invite a few new Ft. Gordon soldiers over for Thanksgiving. I wish that no one would go hungry on any day. God bless those that are struggling.
I think JB has started a wonderful thing. I know it needed help from some other folks this year but isn't it really the thought that counts. I left them my address again this year so they could UPS it to me. I feel good!!!
This is a prime example of a good program gone bad with Al in the picture. Really, what is he doing in the middle of this giveaway? Publicity? Where is he any other time? As for the giveaway, this is a great program to see that no one goes hungry this time of year!
I only wish that they would cook the turkey and provide all the trimmings. These folks have plenty of money and how much would it take to include the other food and cook it?
And perhaps, just a little bourbon!
And some early Christmas gifts!
Maybe a bike
Or a small hand gun
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