An approximately 500 frozen turkeys — intended to feed the needy as part of a Thanksgiving gift distribution — were stolen in California.
The turkeys, all of which were donated to local non-profit organization UR Important, were stolen Sunday from a box truck.which authorities had not been able to locate as of Tuesday, NBC News reported.
CCTV footage is being reviewed as part of the investigation and efforts to locate the vehicle and its contents, CBS News reported.
According to founder Alexa Oliver, who told CBS that, with the help of her children, she will go from store to store to buy turkeys to try to replace “what we can afford,” the organization still aims to feed 200 people for the holiday.
Oliver announced the theft in video on the foundation's Facebook page On Sunday, she also warned families about the Elk Lodge, which was “giving away turkeys.”
“We want to make sure we apologize to all the families who will be affected and devastated by this,” Oliver continued. “That was almost 500 turkeys that we had to give away today. And they've all been taken. So please keep us in your prayers. Keep the families in your prayers.”
A generous good Samaritan, who remains anonymous, has also offered to help, and the organization receives donations annually from Temecula's Abbot Laboratories, Oliver told CBS on Monday.
“It’s just another mountain we have to climb,” Oliver said, “and we’ll climb it and conquer it.”
