The weekend before Thanksgiving is a busy one for volunteers at the Mineral County Food Bank in Superior as they prepared 100 bags of Thanksgiving food for their clients. Program manager Marlene Adair said that’s how many people signed up this year to receive a turkey with all the trimmings for their Nov. 24 meal.

The bags were handed out on Monday, Nov. 21. In addition to the turkey, they received cranberries, stuffing, fruit, vegetables, canned pumpkin, soups, sweet potatoes and rice.

The frozen turkeys were donated by Cherry Creek Media, Eagle 93 as part of their annual Guerrilla Turkey Drive which was held the week of Nov. 14. That drive provides turkeys to the Missoula and Mineral County Food Banks, Pantry Partners, Darby Bread Box and the Haven House.

Clients signed up to receive their Thanksgiving bags on Sept. 1, Adair explained. To become a client, they have to show proof of low income and then they receive food based on a sliding scale.

The scale is based on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Poverty Guidelines. It begins at an annual salary of $17,820, or less for one person and increases to $61,335 for a family of eight. After that, for each additional family member you must add $6,240 to the annual salary.

In the small warehouse located at 308 Pine Street, the shelves are stacked high with creamed soups, boxes of macaroni and cheese, canned vegetables, and other nonperishable items.

“I like to give them creamed soups because you can make a lot of different meals with them,” said Adair with a smile.

Food items are purchased at a reduced rate through the Montana Food Network, as well as from local donations. Normal operating hours are Fridays from 10 a.m. until noon and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. However, they will be closed on Nov. 25 due to the holiday.