A student club aiming to provide holiday meals for single mothers and their families already has experienced some success in its November food drive.

“We have helped feed over 60 people, and been able to provide $25 gift cards for each family, which will allow them to buy their own turkey or ham,” said Lisa Lasater, president of the Future Alumni Network or FAN Club.

As an extra incentive to get involved with the donations, each of the five booths is decorated with a large posterboard turkey that contributors are encouraged to “dress” with their donations.

For every five families fed through the drive, the naked turkeys are given an item of clothing so the birds can better adhere to the campus dress code, said Lasater, who is a diversified studies major.

The FAN Club will use proceeds to provide Thanksgiving meals for families of students who are part of the Single Mothers’ Academic Resource Team, known as the SMART program.

Collection booths are being set up on campus to accept donations of nonperishable Thanksgiving food items such as canned green beans, yams and cranberry sauce, as well as boxed items such as stuffing and instant mashed potatoes.

Monetary donations also are encouraged to help cover the cost of the turkeys. “We felt like it was important to reach out to these families during Thanksgiving, since it’s such a cross-cultural holiday that’s about spending time with family,” Lasater said.

If you’d like to see the half-naked turkeys for yourself or donate to this cause, your last chance will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Nov. 20.

Students are encouraged to do their part.

“I think it’s a great idea,” said history major Carley Veal. “I’m definitely going to stop by a booth before class.”

Donation booths will be located in Student Life, in Room 1D4A of the Arts and Humanities Center, in Room 102 of the Library, at the FACE Center and at the Capitol Hill Center.

For information about signing up for the SMART program, contact SMART Coordinator Keisha Williams at keisha.l.williams@occc.edu for details.

For more information about joining the FAN club, contact Lasater at lisa.d.lasater@my.occc.edu or Student Life at SLstaffDL@occc.edu.