Morongo tribe gives 9,000 Thanksgiving turkeys to feed the needy

The Morongo Band of Mission Indians this week started distributing more than 9,000 turkeys across Southern California, enough to provide 200,000 Thanksgiving dinners to seniors, veterans and the needy.

The Los Angeles Mission, which serves the homeless in downtown, received 200 turkeys from the Riverside County-based tribe.

The traditional Thanksgiving birds also were donated to Carol’s Kitchen in the San Gorgonio Pass area, H.E.L.P. Inc. in San Bernardino and others, including Veterans of Foreign Wars posts in Wildomar and Moreno Valley.

“In these difficult economic times, we feel fortunate to be able to help families, children, veterans and others in need," said tribal council member Anne Robinson.

The tribe has donated Thanksgiving turkeys for 26 years.

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-- Phil Willon in Riverside

Photo: A farm turkey. Credit: Elise Amendola / Associated Press