COEUR d’ALENE — With a family of seven, including four grandchildren, Teresa Richardson said the turkey she received Friday was a godsend.

“I’m speechless,” she said as she sat in a car outside Unity Center for Spiritual Growth on a 25-degree morning. “It’s a blessing.”

Combined with the $25 gift card she received to Super 1 Foods, Richardson said they will be able to enjoy a Thanksgiving dinner.

“We wouldn’t have it without them,” she said.

The nonprofit Turkeys and More gave out 1,800 12- to 14-pound turkeys Friday to provide a Thanksgiving meal for vulnerable families.

More than 1,000 were delivered by volunteers to food banks and other organizations around Kootenai County, while about 700 picked up turkeys, along with the gift cards, at the Unity Center on 15th Street.

Evalyn Adams, Turkeys and More vice president, has coordinated the event for six years. Its theme is “Fight Hunger, Feed Hope.”

“We feel when things are so tough financially and people are kind of down, if they know people in the community care enough to do this for them, it gives them a little hope, it gives them a boost,” she said.

Turkeys and More set a fundraising goal of $60,000 to feed an estimated 8,000 people. It came up about $8,000 short, so it’s still accepting donations.

“It feels really great to have that many turkeys that we can distribute,” Adams said.

The Coeur Group was key in Friday morning deliveries and North Idaho College wrestlers and others helped with managing traffic flow and placing turkeys in mostly older vehicles that passed through the pickup site.

Turkeys and More President Bill Griffiths was pleased so many volunteers were involved and that they were able to help thousands have a nice Thanksgiving.

“That’s such a wonderful, warm feeling, to provide family unity and a shared, loving meal,” he said.

NIC wrestler Travis Waldner was glad to do what he could.

When one woman explained she had a big family and asked for a larger turkey, Waldner went looking and found one.

“You’re sweet,’ the woman said.

Waldner smiled.

“It’s nice to do some good needs,” he said as she drove away.

Another NIC wrestler, Logan Massie, recently moved here from Port Townsend, Wash. He heard about the turkey giveaway and signed on to volunteer.

“I want to make somewhat of a difference because I made a difference where I lived before so I figure why not help out and make this community a little better, too,” he said.

Back home, Massie coached middle school wrestling and weight lifting.

“This isn’t the same thing but it’s something to help out,” he said.

Their efforts were appreciated by recipients.

“It’s very helpful,” said a woman named Lori. “My husband passed away in April so it’s a really difficult time for me.”

Shellie Binning said it will brighten Thanksgiving.

“Being on a fixed income right now, this is a great blessing to me and my family," she said.