Stormin’s Turkey Giveaway goes statewide with Nov. 25 distribution
Delawarean Norman Oliver, who for more than 30 years has led an effort in Wilmington to organize a holiday turkey giveaway to assist families and seniors, is taking the effort statewide this year with a goal of providing at least 3,000 families with turkeys in Wilmington and New Castle County as well as Kent and Sussex counties.
Distribution sites have already been established in conjunction with the local branches of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Delaware and other locations where turkeys will be distributed on Tuesday, Nov. 25.
Oliver and the hundreds of volunteers who support the annual turkey drive remind citizens there is still time to donate turkeys or money, or to support the effort by volunteering time. Deadline for turkey and monetary donations and volunteer sign up is Monday, Nov. 24. Call 302-655-8250.
“For more than three decades, Our Youth Inc. and Nor Enterprises have fed thousands of families and seniors for the Thanksgiving holiday,” said Oliver. “This year we were able to take this effort statewide because of the support of numerous organizations which include the Jefferson Awards Foundation; the Charter School of Wilmington Jefferson Council; the Farnan Law Firm; the Boys & Girls Clubs of Delaware; Leroy A. Tice Esq., PA; United Distributors of Delaware; Innovative Schools; Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc.; Innovative Education Associates; The Buccini/Pollin Group; Red Clay Consolidated School District; Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., Mu Pi Chapter at University of Delaware; and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. and Epsilon Alpha Chapter at Delaware State University.”
Oliver urges citizens to participate and track this year’s statewide Stormin’s Turkey Giveaway by liking the Facebook Event Page: Stormin’s Annual Turkey Drive Giveaway, following the event on Twitter @Turkey Drive 2014 ,or following activities on Instagram: turkeydrive2014 (Norman Oliver). Organizers will use Twitter Nov. 25 to announce when they arrive at and leave a delivery site. Use #followthatturkey.
Sussex County times and locations include the following: 9 a.m., Seaford Boys & Girls Club (Director Chris Couch), 310 Virginia Ave., Seaford, 302-628-3789; 10 a.m., Georgetown Boys & Girls Club (Director Renee Hickman), 115 N. Race St., Georgetown, 302-856-4903; 11:15 a.m., Milford Boys & Girls Club (Director Marlene Duffy), 101 Delaware Veterans Blvd., Milford, 302-422-4453.
Norman “Stormin” Oliver grew up on the streets of Wilmington’s Southbridge neighborhood along with his four brothers and four sisters. He was raised by his mother, Zanthia Oliver, with whom he was very close. Oliver attended Wilmington High School for two years before being transferred to Newark High School after desegregation. One football coach there started calling him “Stormin Norman,” and the nickname stuck. After Newark High School, Oliver attended Delaware State University, earning his graduate degree in social work in 1985. He was a Wilmington City Council member of the 4th District from 1992- 2004, served as chairman of the Wilmington Democratic Party, and started the Turkey Drive and Giveaway 32 years ago by delivering meals to homeless persons living under area bridges. The event has grown to allow Oliver and his supporters to feed over 3,000 families at Thanksgiving.
