Driver, aide start Thanksgiving turkey drive for needy students

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Bus driver Vegas Cowart and her assistant Ed Arno started a contest for students on their route to draw a turkey with a chance for two of them to win a real one for Thanksgiving, and ended up giving away more than 90 turkeys, Daily News Journal reports.

Cowart and Arno initially decided to give away a turkey to one boy and one girl on their route, since they know many of the children’s families struggle financially, and got a much greater response than they expected, according to the newspaper.

Having received so many contest entries, Cowart and Arno decided to reach out to others for help with the turkey drive. The entire Murfreesboro City Schools transportation department also got involved, including other drivers, who brought in turkeys. Additionally, members of Arno’s church and a local bank donated money to buy turkeys, and two grocery stores allowed the group to purchase turkeys at a discount, according to Daily News Journal.  Every one of the 53 families represented on Cowart and Arno’s bus route received a turkey. The rest of the bus routes had at least one turkey to give out per route.

The transportation department will continue to help struggling families throughout the winter by collecting donations of scarves, hats, gloves and coats to give to children on the routes, the newspaper reports.

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