As Thanksgiving approaches, Fayetteville’s community is gearing up for Operation Turkey Fayetteville. This annual event brings the city together to ensure no one goes hungry on Nov. 28, Thanksgiving Day. Led by volunteer coordinator and logistics director Venassia Gunter, this effort mobilizes thousands of volunteers to prepare, package, and deliver warm meals to those in need across Fayetteville, Cumberland County, and nearby areas like Raeford.
Gunter, a leader with a deep commitment to her community, has been at the helm of Operation Turkey since 2015. Her vision has transformed it from a small gathering of 500 meals into an ambitious goal of 10,000 meals this year. There are no qualifications required. To request a meal, contact the website or email meals@operationturkey.com. Meal requests are open until 11:59 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 17. Deliveries will be made between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day.
“We hope to serve 10,000 meals to people who need them,” Gunter explains. “That’s our biggest hope. We also work with local organizations that feed people daily, so they get a well-deserved break on Thanksgiving if they want one.”
For those organizations that still want to be part of the effort, Operation Turkey provides a platform for them to volunteer, keeping Fayetteville’s community spirit alive.
Each year, Fayetteville residents eagerly anticipate the lineup of Operation Turkey events designed to prepare the community for the holiday in stages. The events foster a spirit of service that resonates with participants of all ages, starting with volunteer orientations and culminating in Thanksgiving Day meal preparation and delivery.
Volunteer Orientation: Introducing the Mission
On Nov. 25, Gunter and her team will kick off the event series with a volunteer orientation from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at 606 Johnson St. These orientations provide new volunteers the opportunity to learn about the structure and mission of Operation Turkey, meet their city and site leaders, and clarify their roles. Gunter emphasized that volunteers receive email invitations for orientation, including virtual options and recorded sessions for those unable to attend in person.
“We get volunteers from all walks of life, including families who make this their Thanksgiving tradition,” Gunter notes. “From ages 0 to 100, everyone’s welcome.”
Many families, she says, attend with children who then grow up returning each year, creating a lasting impact on the community.
In recent years, Operation Turkey’s digital footprint has expanded. Their social media platforms—Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn—keep the community updated on every detail, from orientations to volunteer roles and event schedules. This broad reach, including partnerships with social workers, schools, and police, ensures that those in need hear about the service and can request meals as necessary.
The Turkey Tailgate: A Community Comes Together to Serve
On Nov. 26 and 27, the Turkey Tailgate kicks off with a community-centered day of cooking, organizing, and sorting donations at 606 Johnson St. The Turkey Tailgate serves as the backbone of Operation Turkey’s Thanksgiving Day effort, bringing together smokers and Pitmasters, families, and first-time volunteers to prepare essential items for the big day.
“The Turkey Tailgate is one of the most important parts of our operation,” Gunter explains. “We start early, around 6:00 am, and volunteers rotate throughout the day, working in shifts.”
Volunteers at the Turkey Tailgate participate in various activities, such as cooking mashed potatoes and dressing, sorting toiletry donations, and organizing clothing care packages; many return year after year, making the Turkey Tailgate a beloved tradition that bonds participants and builds excitement for Thanksgiving.
The Turkey Tailgate is structured as an assembly line, which Gunter calls the “turkey spa.” Volunteers begin by cleaning the turkeys, giving them an “herb and olive oil massage,” then roasting and cooling them before they’re stored in preparation for plating. Gunter describes the setup as a “community effort, with each person responsible for the next” and adds that the team’s structure allows volunteers to feel confident and connected, no matter their role.
“It’s like an assembly line for turkeys!” Gunter says with a laugh. The stations include food preparation and areas for clothing donations and care packages, all organized so that volunteers can easily find their places and get to work.
The morning of Nov. 28 begins early for Operation Turkey’s volunteers. By 6 a.m., the dedicated team is gathered once more at 606 Johnson St., eager to start the final steps of preparation and distribution. Volunteers of all ages and abilities step into setup, cooking, plating, packaging, and delivery roles.
“The main event is Thanksgiving morning,” Gunter says. “That’s when we bring everything together—the meals, the care packages, and the volunteers who will deliver meals throughout Fayetteville and surrounding areas.”
Gunter estimates that by the end of Thanksgiving Day, the team will have distributed 10,000 meals to families, elderly individuals, and others in need.
For many Fayetteville residents, Thanksgiving wouldn’t be the same without this morning of service. The sight of families working together, the joy of delivering meals to appreciative recipients, and the knowledge that they are helping people who may not otherwise have a holiday meal are experiences that many volunteers find profoundly moving.
One memorable moment for Gunter involved delivering meals late on Thanksgiving evening. She recalls finding a mother with four children who hadn’t eaten in days.
“I cried when I got back to the car,” Gunter says. “The kids were standing at the window waiting for food, and moments like that keep me motivated.”
These kinds of stories resonate with volunteers and keep them coming back each year. Whether it’s a child handing a meal to an elderly recipient or a family sharing a few minutes of conversation with someone in need, Operation Turkey’s impact extends far beyond the plate.
A Tradition That’s Here to Stay
Gunter reflects on how far Operation Turkey has come since she started in 2015. What began as a modest goal of 500 meals has now expanded to 10,000, with thousands of Fayetteville residents eagerly signing up to volunteer each year.
“People hear about us and want to help,” Gunter says. “And as we grow, so does the number of meals we can provide.”
Each year, the numbers continue to rise, fueled by a community that embraces the mission of Operation Turkey and the message it represents.
With new volunteers joining each season, Gunter sees the event continuing to expand and deepen its roots in Fayetteville and beyond. “We’ve become a tradition, something families and friends look forward to. And our goal is to keep growing and serving even more people, not just in Fayetteville, but across North Carolina.”
For Gunter, Operation Turkey is more than just a holiday event—it’s a long-term commitment to her community.
“This isn’t a one-time thing,” she says. “We’re building something that lasts, and we want to keep giving people the support they need.”
To this end, Gunter hopes to inspire volunteers to assume leadership and carry Operation Turkey’s mission to other communities. She envisions an even broader impact, with more local leaders stepping up to make Operation Turkey part of their community traditions.
But at its heart, Operation Turkey remains a community effort. Fayetteville residents, local churches, and volunteers of all ages dedicate their time and energy to ensuring that those in need can enjoy a warm meal on Thanksgiving. Operation Turkey's website allows for meal reservations for anyone in Cumberland County who needs a meal on Thanksgiving, and the team will deliver each meal within Cumberland County’s limits.
“We’re here to support anyone who needs us,” Gunter says. “Whether it’s a hot meal, a friendly face, or a little extra help during the holidays, we’re committed to our community.”
As Fayetteville’s Operation Turkey gets ready to serve more people than ever this year, Venassia Gunter’s leadership and the dedication of volunteers highlight the organization’s mission. Operation Turkey is not just about providing meals; it’s about fostering a stronger, more compassionate community in Fayetteville, one Thanksgiving at a time.
For more information or to volunteer, please contact Operation Turkey Fayetteville through their website https://www.operationturkey.com/ or Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OperationTurkeyFayette

(Photo: Volunteers prepare for Operation Turkey, a Thanksgiving Day service event for those in need in Cumberland County. Photos courtesy of Operation Turkey Facebook Page)