In addition to Santa’s sleigh, refrigerated tractor-trailer rigs will soon be arriving in Wichita, Kansas, filled with 3,000 turkeys for the Salvation Army of Wichita.

The turkeys were purchased with $50,000 donated by the Wichita Cargill Cares Council and Cargill, Inc. They will be distributed to area families as part of the Salvation Army’s Mission of Hope. Distribution by volunteers, including those from Cargill, will take place from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 15, and Friday, Dec. 16, at the Salvation Army’s Wichita Christmas headquarters, 1803 West 3rd St.

“We are delighted to provide turkeys for 3,000 Wichita area families that otherwise would not have one for their holiday dinner,” says Tony Weldon, milling and nutrition manager for Cargill’s pork business, and a member of the Wichita Cargill Cares Council. “The Christmas season is a time for families to spend time together and people should not go hungry or wanting for food, especially in this tough economic climate. We are hopeful that this donation will help make a positive difference for many people throughout the community.”