The Turkey Club turkey giveaway

SAN DIEGO (KUSI) – ‘Tis the season to eat a lot of turkey, but some folks in the South Bay proved Tuesday, it is also the season of giving.

Turkeys were not the only thing being handed out Tuesday in Chula Vista, hope was also handed out.

The long line of people waiting, put a lot of things in perspective.

The Thanksgiving giveaway in Chula Vista is the brainchild of Senator Ben Hueso, and South Bay Community Services.

Some people waited two hours for their turkey.

“All my daughters, my grandsons, going to make dinner. I need a turkey,” said Imelda Nieto.

1,000 turkeys handed out over two days to help bring families together, and start new traditions.

“We’re going to have family games, and talk about what this means to us,” said Amelia Auizar.

This means a lot to Vivian Lopez, the mother of three recently lost her job.

“If I didn’t have Thanksgiving dinner I’d probably go to a food bank. Now I can have it at home,” said Lopez.

“We’ve been doing this for a lot of years. Come to the same communities, we don’t see the same people. Different families see different hardships at different parts of their lives,” said Ben Hueso.

50,000 families a year are helped by South Bay Community Services. They keep those families safe, fed, point them in the direction of whatever they need.

“A lot of families work two jobs making a living. This gives them an opportunity to sit down together and have a meal,” said Mauricio Torre.

The turkeys came from local supermarkets.

“It’s the right thing to do, the right thing to do, especially for kids,” said Frank Bermudez.

“I might have had a financial hardship, but we’re coming back around,” said Vivian.

Many of those in line promised themselves not to be back in that line next year.