Foster Farms is bringing the comfort of a full Thanksgiving meal to thousands of Washington families through a donation of more than 14,400 pounds of turkey to Northwest Harvest’s Kent warehouse. That’s enough turkey to serve more than 16,000 individual holiday meals.

The donation is one of 10 truckloads of holiday turkey donations the company is delivering to food banks and community groups in Washington, Oregon and California,. In total, Foster Farms will donate 126,000 pounds of turkey this holiday season, enough to provide more than 140,000 individual meals to families in need.

On Tuesday, Foster Farms delivered to the Kent warehouse 800 turkeys – 18 pounds each – enough to serve 16,000 meals. The turkeys will be distributed in the coming weeks to Northwest Harvest partner agencies to help feed Seattle-area families this Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving is a time for families to gather around a meal, yet approximately 2.7 million households in Washington – one in eight – are food insecure. Northwest Harvest is hoping that Foster Farms’ donation will help encourage other companies and the community to join in providing turkeys, protein and other food staples to help families in need enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving dinner.

A Foster Farms semi-truck delivers more than 14,400 pounds of turkey to the Northwest Harvest Kent warehouse on Tuesday. MARK KLAAS, Kent Reporter

Northwest Harvest received a delivery of 800 donated turkeys – more than 14,400 pounds, enough to serve 16,000 meals, from Foster Farms on Tuesday. At the donation presentation at the Northwest Harvest Kent warehouse, are, from left, Jordan Rubin, director of community engagement for Northwest Harvest; Jim Hemmen, procurement manager for NW Harvest; Eu-wanda Eagans, chief operating officer for NW Harvest; and Jim Procopio III, director of operations for NW Harvest. MARK KLAAS, Kent Reporter