California Tribe Donates Turkeys

BANNING, California – (PRESS RELEASE) --Marking the largest turkey donation in its history, the Morongo Band of Mission Indians is giving 6,000 turkeys, double last year's donation, to Southern California charities and families in need. The turkeys will provide 30,000 Thanksgiving meals. With a tradition of helping others in time of need, the tribe began its Thanksgiving outreach in the 80's and has continued to increase efforts throughout the years.

"Our annual Thanksgiving donation is the Morongo tribe's way of continuing the tradition that started 380 years ago when the Indians helped hungry settlers off the coast of Massachusetts," said Morongo tribal council member Joletta Tsosie.

"Each year we are thankful for our ability to help the local community and provide a warm holiday meal for families in need."

Morongo Band of Mission Indians tribal council members will lead a volunteer group to provide turkeys to 43 Southern California area charitable organizations. Morongo's Thanksgiving outreach includes the delivery of turkeys, as well as hosting a pick-up center for designated charities on the Morongo Indian Reservation. Deliveries to charities throughout Southern California will begin on Monday, November 15. On-site pickup for selected charities is scheduled for Thursday, November 18 and Friday, November 19 at the tribe's community center located at 1300 Fields Road on the reservation.

This year, Morongo tribal council member Tsosie and tribal members will put a timely spin on the term "Thanksgiving" by hosting daily turkey lunches during the week of November 15th in the Morongo Community Center for local community fire departments that battled last year's wildfires.

The special meals will serve as a "thank you" for local firefighters in recognition of their courage and efforts demonstrated during last year's wildfires, the worst in California's history. In addition, the local heroes will be invited to help with the preparation of turkeys for delivery. Morongo's tribal tradition of sharing in times of need is a generations- old practice.

The tribe's contributions extend beyond the annual Thanksgiving donations, as Morongo gives generously on an annual basis to a multitude of local community groups and less fortunate Indian tribes. Morongo matched a $1 million donation it made to the American Red Cross during last year's wildfires with a $1 million donation to the San Diego chapter of Habitat for Humanity to help rebuild homes on the San Pasqual Indian Reservation, which were lost to wildfires.

Groups that will receive turkeys from Morongo include Lieutenant Governor Bustamante's Operation Gobble; Second Harvest Food Bank; Alternatives to Domestic Violence; the Salvation Army; St. Vincent's Catholic Church; Riverside City Mission; American Legion Posts 595#, 500# and 888#; Cabazon Elementary School; Carol's Kitchen; Morongo Faith Chapel; Red Barn Food Ministry; Riverside County Fire Department Chaplain Corps; VFW Post 1726#; VFW Post 1873#; VFW Post Temecula Valley; VFW Post Jurupa; VFW Post 184#; VFW Post 9223#; Cabazon Fellowship; VFW 8547#; VFW Post 12020#; Fellowship in the Pass; Set Free Christian Fellowship; San Gorgonio Child Care; New Life Praise Chapel; Eagles Haven Church; Twin Eagles Ministries; House of Decision; Hoffer Elementary School; Morongo Head Start; San Gorgonio Pass Moose Lodge #915; Joseph's Storehouse; St. Mary's Indian Mission Church; GI Forum for Vets in Need; Tabernacle of Praise Worship Center; ABC Recovery Center; Mistletoe; Mission Worship Center; Central Elementary School; Riverside/San Bernardino County Indian Health and the Trinity Whitewater Boys Home. About the Morongo Band of Mission Indians The Morongo tribe operates one of the largest and oldest tribal government gaming facilities in California.

As a direct result of the gaming operation's success, the Morongo tribe has eliminated welfare dependency on the reservation. The tribe now pays for a wide range of its community services including water storage and distribution systems, waste management, road maintenance, public safety, college education funding, recreational facilities, Headstart program assistance and more. The Morongo tribe is the largest private sector employer in the Banning-Beaumont region and a major contributor to the Coachella Valley economy. The tribe presently employs approximately 2,000 people in gaming and non-gaming tribal operations.