The third annual Kent Turkey Challenge hosted by Torklift Central raised $9,978 and 2,784 pounds of food for the Kent Food Bank.

Hundreds of families lined up in the cold weather around the block on Nov. 26 to receive a Thanksgiving meal from the Kent Food Bank.

Kent businesses were each challenged to raise money and collect food for the program.

Forty-two businesses and organizations participated.

“We had turkey’s to last the entire day,” said Kent Food Bank’s Executive Director Jeniece Choate. “The Kent Food Bank served 1,010 families with a holiday meal, 3,153 people.”

Participating businesses and organizations created elaborate displays, sent out newsletters, created events and posted on their social media accounts to get as many donations as possible from the community.

“This Turkey Challenge has changed our holiday Thanksgiving distribution in a great way,” Choate said. “Before this drive the food bank did not do turkeys. For the past three years we’ve been able to offer families a turkey.”

Torklift Central looks forward to hosting the fourth annual Kent Turkey Challenge.

“Thank you everyone who donated toward the food drive to help fight hunger this holiday season,” said Torklift Central General Manager Matt Lynch.

Below are some of the top collectors:

Top Five – Money raised:

Shannon and Associates: $3,358

Young’s Market: $2,125

Torklift Central: $1,685

Curran Law Firm: $580

Blanc – N- Schwartz Salon: $351

Top Five – Food items collected:

Grass Lake Elementary: 812

Young’s Market: 300

Kent Reporter: 230

Pacific Power Products: 108

Valley RV Supercenter: 100

A list of all the businesses that participated can be found here http://torkliftcentral.com/2013-kent-turkey-challenge/.