YOUNGSTOWN — Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley will have 48 additional ways to reach out to a variety of agencies ready to serve those in need this Thanksgiving.

“Hunger is a bigger thing than some of us realize,” said Joe Polis, installation coordinator with Gault Heating & Cooling Inc., which donated 24 of 48 turkeys Friday to the food bank, 2805 Salt Springs Road.

“We also want to give back to the community,” he said.

Gault decided to donate one turkey for every furnace the company sold or installed between Nov. 1 and 21, he said.

The business also worked in conjunction with Boardman-based Catullo Prime Meats, which donated the other 24 turkeys, Polis continued.

Second Harvest serves an estimated 160 soup kitchens, food pantries, domestic-abuse shelters, faith-based organizations and other hunger-relief agencies in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties.

The entities then distribute the donated items to those in need whom they serve, noted Kim Brock, Second Harvest’s agency-relations and program manager.

The foodbank will soon be contacting agencies on its list that can take any number of the 48 donated turkeys, which will be given away before Thanksgiving, Brock explained.

“Every donation makes a huge difference in our community,” she added.

“Many people take a turkey dinner for granted,” said Michael Iberis, Second Harvest’s executive director. “This generous donation will go a long way to help families at Thanksgiving.”

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