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Representatives from McKinnon Toyota Nissan giving away turkeys on Nov. 22. (TRACEY KIMBRELL | CONTRIBUTED)

Over 320 turkeys were handed out to families in need for Thanksgiving during the event. (TRACEY KIMBRELL | CONTRIBUTED)

McKinnon Toyota Nissan Sales Director Richard Wall with turkeys that were given to the Clanton community. (TRACEY KIMBRELL | CONTRIBUTED)

Over 200 turkeys were handed out at Clanton City Park alone on Nov. 22. (TRACEY KIMBRELL | CONTRIBUTED)

The remaining turkeys were given out by McKinnon salesman Cody Smith and others going door to door in neighborhoods. (TRACEY KIMBRELL | CONTRIBUTED)

By Carey Reeder | Managing Editor

Prior to Thanksgiving, four local businesses came together to hand out 320 turkeys to families in need in Clanton to help out this holiday season. J Clay Maddox, LLC, Lake Lawn Landscape, McKinnon Toyota Nissan and SavMor all partnered together and handed out the turkeys the Friday before Thanksgiving.

The giving soul of Mark McKinnon held a Christmas tree giveaway last year around the end of November to benefit families in need. This year, he spoke to Bill Davis and Jake Sim, owners of SavMor, about doing a turkey giveaway in similar fashion to the tree giveaway, but before Thanksgiving so families could prepare it for the holiday.

Around the same time, and completely separate, Clay Maddox with J Clay Maddox, LLC approached SavMor about doing a turkey giveaway as well. Brad Owen and James Johnson with Lake Lawn Landscape also partnered with the group to help out with the giveaway.

“We thought ‘Why do we not just do it together,’” Maddox said. “Me, Mark and Jake got together on it and handed out over 300 turkeys.”

SavMor provided 320 turkeys to giveaway, and around 200 were handed out at Clanton City Park on Nov. 22. McKinnon Sales Director Richard Wall and salesman Cody Smith drove around to various neighborhoods in Clanton and went door to door handing out the remaining turkeys to families.

“I like it a lot, and we are just trying to give back to the community more,” Sim said. “We are trying to do more programs with the schools, churches and local food banks to do more and more for the community. This one was a fun one, and a big one, because that is a large part of your purchase that comes with a Thanksgiving dinner.”

The businesses plan to hold a giveaway event similar to this each year going forward to carry on the giving tradition that was started by McKinnon last year.

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