November 19, 2025 • 10 mins
Where will all these turkeys go? Ken Estelle, President and CEO of Feeding America West Michigan joins us to discuss how these turkeys find a home...well, a dinner table.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is sort of like when NBC when Chicago Med
and Chicago Fire come together. Yeah, it's West Michigan's Morning
News in West Michigan Live. Justin Barclay is in with
us as well as we are in with him.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Well, that got weird.
Speaker 3 (00:13):
How does that work?
Speaker 2 (00:15):
Yeah, I don't know who's in charge here.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
It's a twenty second annual turkey drop for Meltrotter Ministries.
My heavens, this is fun to watch, but we got
a long way to go, and as we mentioned, we're
getting to that part of the broadcast part of the
day when things slow up a little bit, So do
not slow up a little bit. The locations are as follows,
and I quote Celebration Cinema North and South, the Thrift
(00:40):
Store in Jennison for Meltrotter's on Cottonwood, Meltrotter Ministries downtown
to twenty five Commerce Miskegan Rescue Mission lt out there
just sent us some great social of turkeys getting dropped
off on Lakedin and the Gateway Mission Men's Center on
River Avenue in Holland taking those donations and they will
be distributed once we're done. Five thousand. My our friends
(01:02):
at Feeding America West Michigan and the President CEO is
ken A stell back on the liveline. Ken, thanks for
doing this today.
Speaker 4 (01:11):
Thanks to being with you guys today. Great day.
Speaker 1 (01:13):
Talk to us a little bit about how these are distributed.
Who's going to get these some five thousand turkeys when
all is said and done.
Speaker 4 (01:24):
Yeah, well, we were doing our part in terms of
being able to help collect and store and then get
those turkeys out to food sentries and meal programs right
here in the Greater Grand Rapids area and West Michigan.
So basically, once all of the turkeys are collected, we
coordinate with probably with over one hundred different food bantries
(01:48):
and meal programs right here in our community, and we
can post to those food bantries. So if you're looking
for one of those turkeys in your family, you need
to just go to your local food pantry and that's
where you that's where you get the turkey. Ken.
Speaker 5 (02:04):
We were just talking about with our friends from mel
trot Or Ministries the front lines and you and your
crew talk about the front lines and experienced what you
just went through and call bridge the gap if you will.
And I know there's a big thank you on your
page that I'm looking at for the people who donated
through the shutdown, But what has the met last month
been for your folks.
Speaker 4 (02:26):
I've described it as crazy town in our areas with
all of the different things that happen, not just the
fight cost of things, but then the shut down stamp
upon as they call it, where we were suspending those
We've just seen a real increase in the number of
(02:47):
people coming for help overall. And kind of keep in
mind that coming into that, I mean this year, we
were at pretty much record level of need before any
of the activities of the last three weeks or so,
so it was really crazy, but we also saw a
community really come together and help, and so that was
(03:08):
really encouraging to see.
Speaker 1 (03:10):
Give us a little bit about what you get to
see from the donation side of things. What what is
an average person that donates to Feeding America West Michigan
look like? And how can we continue outside of Turkey
Drop to make sure that we are helping out as
best we can If we feel moved.
Speaker 4 (03:29):
You know we we used to be. It looks like
help and support us look like our neighbors, they're our community,
They're they're folks from every walk of life. Working with
different companies that are supporting us, foundations that support us.
But I would say, you know, generally you look at
(03:52):
the at your person next door and that's probably somebody
that looks like somebody that would help out with us
at Feeding a Mare. So just a really great broad
community support that we get from across the board.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
Can you see so much with Feeding America.
Speaker 3 (04:08):
Can you talk a bit about the amount of kids
that you guys are supporting through this holiday season?
Speaker 4 (04:15):
Yeah, that's a you know, and it is unfortunate that
kids really are taking a blunt of the impact from
people that are struggling with food insecurity and being able
to know where their next meal comes from. One in
five children in our community are impacted by not knowing
where their next meal may be coming from, or struggling
(04:36):
or worried about what they're going to eat. And it's
really focused for us to make sure that the families
were helping and the kids were helping are able to
have that food because it's such an impact to learning
and then just being able to grow as a young person.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
We're talking to Ken Estelle, who is the Feeding America
West Michigan President and CEO. They are the ones that
distribute turkeys from today's Turkey Drop for Meltrotter ministries. You
can give right now from the secured spot at your
office place, or if you are at home right now,
going to wood Radio dot com you'll find a link
(05:14):
to turkey drop dot org.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
Our goal is five thousand.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
Last year we got a little more than that, and
we're hoping to get a little more than that this year.
As Ken has mentioned, they will distribute those turkeys all
over West Michigan, and families will get the opportunity to
have a Thanksgiving that might ordinarily not have an opportunity
to do so. Ken, let's have you put your sales
(05:40):
cap on. If somebody's on the fence about making a
donation right now, any words of encouragement for them?
Speaker 4 (05:47):
Yeah, no, I was just I'm here at Celebration Cinema
North and I've been watching folks drive by, and it
is a fairly continual line or people dropping off, but
there's no real line. I'll tell you what. If you
are wondering what a good time to go and drop
a turkey off, come right now because there's the volunteers
(06:08):
are out there waiting. I am so encouraged because everybody
coming out has a great smile on their face, and
the volunteers are out there helping get the turkeys out
of your car, and it's super easy to do. So
I would say now is a great time to come by.
No wait, drive right up, give your turkey, get a
great smile from a volunteer.
Speaker 3 (06:31):
I've got a little sales pitch for you, Steve, how
about this?
Speaker 2 (06:33):
Bring it just now.
Speaker 3 (06:34):
Lizzie and I we were talking about taking the girls.
This is their first year for this. There's kind of
old enough that they can kind of understand what's going
on three and five. And Brad, I know you've done
this with your kids and Schmiddy too, but taking the girls.
Go pick out a turkey. I told him this morning,
go pick out a turkey. We'll see if you can
carry it, and then we'll go drop it off. And
(06:55):
I think we can't wait to do it. So Lizzie's
sending me prices a turkey, you know, forty nine cents
pound right now at Meyer.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
Oh boy.
Speaker 3 (07:02):
And then I got a notification. I think it's like
thirty somethings sence in the impers. Yeah, so you get
you know, if you got the app, you can get
in there and get that done. But I'm looking at
the actual prices of these turkeys. So here's my sales
pitch to you. I got one here for seven bucks.
You could feed a family for seven bucks. You can
(07:22):
make Thanksgiving for a family for seven bucks with with
with a turkey from Meyer or wherever you might get to.
But think about that. You can't make that type of
impact for such an affordable way to do it. It's incredible.
Speaker 5 (07:40):
Ken. One of the things before we let you go
that I wanted to ask you about was the fact
of your partnership with farmers. You know, we talk about
it all the time, how it affects us with weather
or whatever up up on the ridge. With our fruit farmers,
I have, you know, first and second generation now I
think third generation dairy farmer family members over on the
east side of the state. But that partnership direct with
(08:01):
them is so beneficial for you and for them, right.
Speaker 4 (08:06):
Oh yeah, we could not do what we do without
our farmers, farmers that we work with here. We actually
work with farmers across the forty counties that we serve,
and I can't tell you how much we benefit from
the generosity and the care of the farmers. I would
tell you the farmers that grow especially the crops that
(08:27):
we use for produce apples, pears, potatoes, onion, all of that.
Those farmers love their product and they do not want
to see it go to waste. So even when they
get to a point where some of the seconds or
thirds can't be sold, but we all be able to
get those from the farmers. You see that they are
just so pleased to know that their product is going
(08:49):
to be helping people in need. And I'm just very
encouraged by our farmers. And again I said, we couldn't
do what we do without them.
Speaker 1 (08:56):
Feeding America West Michigan's president and c can Estelle great stuff.
Thank you for your time today and all the work
that you and your staff do to help hungry people
eat well.
Speaker 4 (09:09):
We sure appreciate your help and getting the word out today.
And you're part of this great Meltropper, Meltrotter, Turkey Drop,
it's a great day. Come out and bring a turkey.
Speaker 1 (09:18):
Well done, Ken Again. We'll give you the website Wood
Radio dot com. You'll find the link to Turkey drop
dot org. Celebration Cinema North and South. We'll be at
North a little later on today at five o'clock to
wrap things in Jennison the Thrift Store on Cottonwood Meltrotter
Ministries downtown, if that's convenient to twenty five commerce. Muskegan
(09:40):
Rescue is doing brisk business right now the Men's Shelter
on LinkedIn and Gateway Mission Men Center at River Avenue
in Holland. And we are gonna in just a moment
get an update on the total where we stand on
our way to five thousand. But we need to point
out too the we now have a match to tell
(10:01):
you about, so hold on to that thought. Our friends
at the Oberlin Group have stepped up once again to
ruin Christmas for their families.
Speaker 2 (10:12):
We're going to.
Speaker 1 (10:13):
Spend some money this year. If this was our total,
just to let you know, got a long way to go,
so we'll tell you about that next too. This is
a special live broadcast in studio Lawrence Smith, Brett Pikita,
that's Justin Barclay of West Michigan Live. I'm Steve Kelly
in the producers booth, Adam Rochow.
Speaker 2 (10:31):
We're back next on Wood Radio.
This is sort of like when NBC when Chicago Med
and Chicago Fire come together. Yeah, it's West Michigan's Morning
News in West Michigan Live. Justin Barclay is in with
us as well as we are in with him.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Well, that got weird.
Speaker 3 (00:13):
How does that work?
Speaker 2 (00:15):
Yeah, I don't know who's in charge here.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
It's a twenty second annual turkey drop for Meltrotter Ministries.
My heavens, this is fun to watch, but we got
a long way to go, and as we mentioned, we're
getting to that part of the broadcast part of the
day when things slow up a little bit, So do
not slow up a little bit. The locations are as follows,
and I quote Celebration Cinema North and South, the Thrift
(00:40):
Store in Jennison for Meltrotter's on Cottonwood, Meltrotter Ministries downtown
to twenty five Commerce Miskegan Rescue Mission lt out there
just sent us some great social of turkeys getting dropped
off on Lakedin and the Gateway Mission Men's Center on
River Avenue in Holland taking those donations and they will
be distributed once we're done. Five thousand. My our friends
(01:02):
at Feeding America West Michigan and the President CEO is
ken A stell back on the liveline. Ken, thanks for
doing this today.
Speaker 4 (01:11):
Thanks to being with you guys today. Great day.
Speaker 1 (01:13):
Talk to us a little bit about how these are distributed.
Who's going to get these some five thousand turkeys when
all is said and done.
Speaker 4 (01:24):
Yeah, well, we were doing our part in terms of
being able to help collect and store and then get
those turkeys out to food sentries and meal programs right
here in the Greater Grand Rapids area and West Michigan.
So basically, once all of the turkeys are collected, we
coordinate with probably with over one hundred different food bantries
(01:48):
and meal programs right here in our community, and we
can post to those food bantries. So if you're looking
for one of those turkeys in your family, you need
to just go to your local food pantry and that's
where you that's where you get the turkey. Ken.
Speaker 5 (02:04):
We were just talking about with our friends from mel
trot Or Ministries the front lines and you and your
crew talk about the front lines and experienced what you
just went through and call bridge the gap if you will.
And I know there's a big thank you on your
page that I'm looking at for the people who donated
through the shutdown, But what has the met last month
been for your folks.
Speaker 4 (02:26):
I've described it as crazy town in our areas with
all of the different things that happen, not just the
fight cost of things, but then the shut down stamp
upon as they call it, where we were suspending those
We've just seen a real increase in the number of
(02:47):
people coming for help overall. And kind of keep in
mind that coming into that, I mean this year, we
were at pretty much record level of need before any
of the activities of the last three weeks or so,
so it was really crazy, but we also saw a
community really come together and help, and so that was
(03:08):
really encouraging to see.
Speaker 1 (03:10):
Give us a little bit about what you get to
see from the donation side of things. What what is
an average person that donates to Feeding America West Michigan
look like? And how can we continue outside of Turkey
Drop to make sure that we are helping out as
best we can If we feel moved.
Speaker 4 (03:29):
You know we we used to be. It looks like
help and support us look like our neighbors, they're our community,
They're they're folks from every walk of life. Working with
different companies that are supporting us, foundations that support us.
But I would say, you know, generally you look at
(03:52):
the at your person next door and that's probably somebody
that looks like somebody that would help out with us
at Feeding a Mare. So just a really great broad
community support that we get from across the board.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
Can you see so much with Feeding America.
Speaker 3 (04:08):
Can you talk a bit about the amount of kids
that you guys are supporting through this holiday season?
Speaker 4 (04:15):
Yeah, that's a you know, and it is unfortunate that
kids really are taking a blunt of the impact from
people that are struggling with food insecurity and being able
to know where their next meal comes from. One in
five children in our community are impacted by not knowing
where their next meal may be coming from, or struggling
(04:36):
or worried about what they're going to eat. And it's
really focused for us to make sure that the families
were helping and the kids were helping are able to
have that food because it's such an impact to learning
and then just being able to grow as a young person.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
We're talking to Ken Estelle, who is the Feeding America
West Michigan President and CEO. They are the ones that
distribute turkeys from today's Turkey Drop for Meltrotter ministries. You
can give right now from the secured spot at your
office place, or if you are at home right now,
going to wood Radio dot com you'll find a link
(05:14):
to turkey drop dot org.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
Our goal is five thousand.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
Last year we got a little more than that, and
we're hoping to get a little more than that this year.
As Ken has mentioned, they will distribute those turkeys all
over West Michigan, and families will get the opportunity to
have a Thanksgiving that might ordinarily not have an opportunity
to do so. Ken, let's have you put your sales
(05:40):
cap on. If somebody's on the fence about making a
donation right now, any words of encouragement for them?
Speaker 4 (05:47):
Yeah, no, I was just I'm here at Celebration Cinema
North and I've been watching folks drive by, and it
is a fairly continual line or people dropping off, but
there's no real line. I'll tell you what. If you
are wondering what a good time to go and drop
a turkey off, come right now because there's the volunteers
(06:08):
are out there waiting. I am so encouraged because everybody
coming out has a great smile on their face, and
the volunteers are out there helping get the turkeys out
of your car, and it's super easy to do. So
I would say now is a great time to come by.
No wait, drive right up, give your turkey, get a
great smile from a volunteer.
Speaker 3 (06:31):
I've got a little sales pitch for you, Steve, how
about this?
Speaker 2 (06:33):
Bring it just now.
Speaker 3 (06:34):
Lizzie and I we were talking about taking the girls.
This is their first year for this. There's kind of
old enough that they can kind of understand what's going
on three and five. And Brad, I know you've done
this with your kids and Schmiddy too, but taking the girls.
Go pick out a turkey. I told him this morning,
go pick out a turkey. We'll see if you can
carry it, and then we'll go drop it off. And
(06:55):
I think we can't wait to do it. So Lizzie's
sending me prices a turkey, you know, forty nine cents
pound right now at Meyer.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
Oh boy.
Speaker 3 (07:02):
And then I got a notification. I think it's like
thirty somethings sence in the impers. Yeah, so you get
you know, if you got the app, you can get
in there and get that done. But I'm looking at
the actual prices of these turkeys. So here's my sales
pitch to you. I got one here for seven bucks.
You could feed a family for seven bucks. You can
(07:22):
make Thanksgiving for a family for seven bucks with with
with a turkey from Meyer or wherever you might get to.
But think about that. You can't make that type of
impact for such an affordable way to do it. It's incredible.
Speaker 5 (07:40):
Ken. One of the things before we let you go
that I wanted to ask you about was the fact
of your partnership with farmers. You know, we talk about
it all the time, how it affects us with weather
or whatever up up on the ridge. With our fruit farmers,
I have, you know, first and second generation now I
think third generation dairy farmer family members over on the
east side of the state. But that partnership direct with
(08:01):
them is so beneficial for you and for them, right.
Speaker 4 (08:06):
Oh yeah, we could not do what we do without
our farmers, farmers that we work with here. We actually
work with farmers across the forty counties that we serve,
and I can't tell you how much we benefit from
the generosity and the care of the farmers. I would
tell you the farmers that grow especially the crops that
(08:27):
we use for produce apples, pears, potatoes, onion, all of that.
Those farmers love their product and they do not want
to see it go to waste. So even when they
get to a point where some of the seconds or
thirds can't be sold, but we all be able to
get those from the farmers. You see that they are
just so pleased to know that their product is going
(08:49):
to be helping people in need. And I'm just very
encouraged by our farmers. And again I said, we couldn't
do what we do without them.
Speaker 1 (08:56):
Feeding America West Michigan's president and c can Estelle great stuff.
Thank you for your time today and all the work
that you and your staff do to help hungry people
eat well.
Speaker 4 (09:09):
We sure appreciate your help and getting the word out today.
And you're part of this great Meltropper, Meltrotter, Turkey Drop,
it's a great day. Come out and bring a turkey.
Speaker 1 (09:18):
Well done, Ken Again. We'll give you the website Wood
Radio dot com. You'll find the link to Turkey drop
dot org. Celebration Cinema North and South. We'll be at
North a little later on today at five o'clock to
wrap things in Jennison the Thrift Store on Cottonwood Meltrotter
Ministries downtown, if that's convenient to twenty five commerce. Muskegan
(09:40):
Rescue is doing brisk business right now the Men's Shelter
on LinkedIn and Gateway Mission Men Center at River Avenue
in Holland. And we are gonna in just a moment
get an update on the total where we stand on
our way to five thousand. But we need to point
out too the we now have a match to tell
(10:01):
you about, so hold on to that thought. Our friends
at the Oberlin Group have stepped up once again to
ruin Christmas for their families.
Speaker 2 (10:12):
We're going to.
Speaker 1 (10:13):
Spend some money this year. If this was our total,
just to let you know, got a long way to go,
so we'll tell you about that next too. This is
a special live broadcast in studio Lawrence Smith, Brett Pikita,
that's Justin Barclay of West Michigan Live. I'm Steve Kelly
in the producers booth, Adam Rochow.
Speaker 2 (10:31):
We're back next on Wood Radio.
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