At East Meadow Stew Leonard's, turkey brigade delivers to dozens of charities

Hundreds of turkeys were handed out last week at the East Meadow Stew Leonard’s to feed those in need during the Thanksgiving season.

2024 marks the 45th year of Stew Leonard’s turkey brigade — a tradition that has been passed down through generations. When new stores open, they too join in on the holiday goodness.

And on Nov. 21 outside of the East Meadow supermarket, members of the East Meadow Fire Departments, elected officials, Stew Leonard’s employees and members of the Nassau County Police Benevolent Association helped distribute boxes of turkeys to dozens of local charities and organizations in an assembly line.

As cars pulled up, drivers opened the trunks, and the boxes were stacked inside. Some organizations that received turkeys this year included the Nassau County Veterans Agency, St. Brigid’s Catholic Church, St. Bernard’s Church Social Ministry and St. Barnabus Church, among many others.

This was the 8th year the East Meadow store participated in the turkey drive.

“It makes our Thanksgiving that much better,” Stew Leonard Jr., the president and chief executive of Stew Leonard’s, told the Herald at a previous turkey brigade in East Meadow. “Because we know that there are a lot of families out there who don’t have a great meal.”