Annual Charlie Abowd Memorial Turkey and Food Drive begins Nov. 2 in Carson City

 By Karel C. Ancona

The annual Charlie Abowd Memorial Turkey and Food Drive takes place Nov. 2 through 27, continuing Charlie’s lifelong passion of ensuring those experiencing food insecurity, would have a good Thanksgiving.

The drive is sponsored by KNVC 95.1 FM, Carson City Community Radio located in the basement of the Brewery Arts Performance Hall, 511  W. King St., said KNVC General Manager Steve Funk.

   “People can drop off any time,” Funk said. “We’re going to set up a 10 x 10 tent with coolers for turkey, chicken or ham and a box for dry goods.”

   This event extends back to the days when Charlie would issue a call to action by way of his food column, published 20 years in the Nevada Appeal. Today, the need is greater than ever.    Charlie passed in 2024, as what was called the Turkey Drop was beginning, an event he and Funk were coordinating. His passing birthed the #CharlieChallenge, a local movement that encourages each of us to look around the community and see where we can take action to make a positive impact.

   “This is who Charlie always was,” said his sister, Colette Burau. “Charlie believed if it didn’t hurt a little, you weren’t giving enough.

   “Truly, he was giving away his toys and our toys, and we would be like, ‘wait a minute, we want to keep those,’” she said, laughing. “He was always participating in things to help others, he lived simply, and Karen (Charlie’s wife) and I are fulfilling his passions.

   “How else do you honor a person who truly lived?”

   All food donations will be distributed to Ron Wood Family Resource Center, Friends in Service Helping (FISH), Dream Center, and Advocates to End Domestic Violence.

   A  current Carson High School agriculture student and his brother, who graduated from the CHS program and is now studying at University of Nevada, Reno, volunteered to help deliver donations to distributing organizations. 

   Cash donations, if preferred, can be made to Food for Thought, the organization that fills backpacks for chronically hungry children.  Visit www.nvfoodforthought.org to pay via PayPal or mail or drop off at 3246 N. Carson St., Ste. 118, Carson City, Nev. 89706. All donations are tax deductible. Director Marlene Maffei said last year’s donations totalled more than $1,000 including an electronic gift certificate from Costco. To donate in this manner, send the gift card link to director@nvfoodforthought.org.

   In addition to the turkey, chicken or ham, dry goods needed for donation at KNVC include instant and fresh potatoes, canned green beans, corn and fruit, dried onions, cream of mushroom soup, cranberry sauce, chicken broth, stuffing and gravy mix.

   “The importance of giving in our current atmosphere of no federal assistance can’t be overstated,” Funk said. “We must be more focused and intentional in our giving during this season of giving.

   “We have to step up our game and get it done.”

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