National Grid donates $1,000 in turkeys to Olean families

By RICK MILLER

Olean Star

OLEAN — National Grid recently purchased $1,000 worth of turkeys to give to Olean families for Thanksgiving.

Vernon Robinson, Olean warehouse manager for National Grid, said they wanted to keep the buying local and contacted Jared McCarthy of Toad’s Butcher Shop. 

“He confirmed that his business could handle this task and expedite the delivery of these turkeys in less than a few days,” Robinson said.

 “I asked my wife, Michelle Robinson,  Washington West teacher, and Anne Marie Sitter of Operation Warm Hearts, Inc., to use their resources within the school district and not-for-profit organization to help identify those families.”

Robinson said they came up with a list of 38 families in the community to receive the turkeys. 

Unique tickets were created that provided information to pick up the turkeys. Robinson said he dropped off 12-15 pound turkeys for a couple of families that didn’t have the means to pick them up.

“The recipients were very thankful, and it was heartwarming to see the smiles on their faces,” he said.  “Knowing that these families will benefit from such generosity makes me proud to work for an organization such as National Grid.”