30th annual ‘Gobbler Grab’ returns to Simpsonville to provide Thanksgiving meals for local families

A landmark holiday tradition dedicated to fighting hunger across the Upstate marks three decades of service this month as the 30th Annual Gobbler Grab Food Drive gets underway in downtown Simpsonville.

Organized by the Ani-Ya-Wa Chapter of AKK 185, Order of the Arrow (Scouting America), the grassroots initiative has collected and distributed 16,818 turkeys to local families in need since its launch in 1997.

The mission remains unchanged 30 years later: ensuring no family in the community goes without a traditional Thanksgiving meal.

Donation Dates and Drop-Off Location

Community members, local businesses, and civic groups are invited to donate frozen turkeys during two scheduled collection windows held in the front parking lot of Simpsonville Methodist Church (formerly Simpsonville UMC), located at 215 SE Main Street in Simpsonville:

• Thursday, November 12: 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

• Saturday, November 14: 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Supporting the Center for Community Services and Upstate Pantries

All collected turkeys are immediately channeled into local relief networks, supporting the Center for Community Services (CCS) in Simpsonville, alongside regional food banks, church pantries, and shelters throughout the area.

“We are so grateful to be one of the receiving agencies and appreciate the Scouts, volunteers, and generous donors who make this tradition possible year after year,” the Center for Community Services shared in a community statement. “Together, we are making a difference—one turkey, one family, and one Thanksgiving at a time!”

In addition to frozen turkey drop-offs, monetary donations supporting holiday relief efforts can be made directly to the Center for Community Services.

For more information on the drive or how to get involved, visit gobblergrab.org.