With help from a host of volunteers, Janet Easley gave away hundreds of frozen turkeys this weekend at Watkins Park Family Center.

This Thanksgiving marks the 40th year Easley has helped provide holiday meals to neighbors in need.

See photos from the Thanksgiving turkey giveaway below.

Get the backstory

From cooking Thanksgiving dinners to running a turkey drive-thru

Janet Easley has been sharing Thanksgiving dinner with her community for decades. Now, she’s handing out free turkeys at Watkins Park.

by Sophie Young November 20, 2024November 25, 2024

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For 40 years, Janet Easley has been helping neighbors with Thanksgiving

by Doug McSchooler and Mirror Indy team, Mirror Indy
November 25, 2024

<h1>For 40 years, Janet Easley has been helping neighbors with Thanksgiving</h1>
<p class="byline">by Doug McSchooler and Mirror Indy team, Mirror Indy <br />November 25, 2024</p>

<p>With help from a host of volunteers, Janet Easley gave away hundreds of frozen turkeys this weekend at Watkins Park Family Center. </p>
<p>This Thanksgiving marks the 40th year Easley has helped provide holiday meals to neighbors in need.</p>
<p>See photos from the Thanksgiving turkey giveaway below.</p>
<div class="wp-block-group has-light-gray-background-color has-background" style="padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)"> </div>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/thanksgiving-turkey-giveaway_DM001-1024x682.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-41303" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Alexandra Barker, of Indianapolis, passes a frozen turkey through a driver’s car window Nov. 23, 2024, at Watkins Park Family Center in Indianapolis. Barker has volunteered at the event for nine years.</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/thanksgiving-turkey-giveaway_DM002-1024x682.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-41296" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Matthew Jirgal, 18, of Carmel, carries boxes full of frozen turkey Nov. 23, 2024, at Watkins Park Family Center in Indianapolis.</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/thanksgiving-turkey-giveaway_DM004-1024x682.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-41295" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Janet Easley offers advice to a new batch of volunteers before cars begin to file by to collect a free turkey Nov. 23, 2024, at Watkins Park Family Center in Indianapolis. This event marks the 40th that Janet Easley coordinated to help neighbors for Thanksgiving.</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/thanksgiving-turkey-giveaway_DM011-1024x682.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-41302" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Hundreds of frozen turkeys were given away Nov. 23, 2024, at Watkins Park Family Center.</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/thanksgiving-turkey-giveaway_DM003-1024x682.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-41291" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Hundreds of frozen turkeys were given away Nov. 23, 2024, at Watkins Park Family Center in Indianapolis.</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/thanksgiving-turkey-giveaway_DM009-1024x682.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-41292" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Janet Easley watches from the sideline as cars file by to collect a free turkey Nov. 23, 2024, at Watkins Park Family Center in Indianapolis. This event marks the 40th that Janet Easley coordinated to help neighbors for Thanksgiving.</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/thanksgiving-turkey-giveaway_DM006-1024x682.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-41305" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Peggy Payne, of Indianapolis, passes a frozen turkey into a car Nov. 23, 2024, at Watkins Park Family Center in Indianapolis. This event marks the 40th that Janet Easley coordinated to help neighbors for Thanksgiving.</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/thanksgiving-turkey-giveaway_DM007-1024x682.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-41304" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Jacob Anderson, 15, of Indianapolis, unloads boxes of turkeys from the back of a truck Nov. 23, 2024, at Watkins Park Family Center in Indianapolis. This event marks the 40th that Janet Easley coordinated to help neighbors for Thanksgiving.</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/thanksgiving-turkey-giveaway_DM010-1024x682.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-41298" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Rafael Sanchez, a long-time volunteer for the event, gives last-minute instructions to the volunteers before cars begin pouring through the line Nov. 23, 2024, at Watkins Park Family Center in Indianapolis. This event marks the 40th that Janet Easley coordinated to help neighbors for Thanksgiving.</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/thanksgiving-turkey-giveaway_DM008-1024x682.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-41307" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Kinley Fuller, 8, of Franklin, stands on her tippy toes to maneuver a frozen turkey into a car Nov. 23, 2024, at Watkins Park Family Center in Indianapolis. This event marks the 40th that Janet Easley coordinated to help neighbors for Thanksgiving.</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/thanksgiving-turkey-giveaway_DM011-1024x682.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-41302" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Hundreds of frozen turkeys were given away Nov. 23, 2024, at Watkins Park Family Center. This event marks the 40th that Janet Easley coordinated to help neighbors for Thanksgiving.</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/thanksgiving-turkey-giveaway_DM013-1024x682.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-41294" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Hundreds of frozen turkeys were given away Nov. 23, 2024, at Watkins Park Family Center.</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/thanksgiving-turkey-giveaway_DM012-1024x682.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-41306" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Alexandra Barker, of Indianapolis, passes a frozen turkey through a driver’s car window Nov. 23, 2024, at Watkins Park Family Center in Indianapolis. Barker has volunteer at the event for nine years. This event marks the 40th that Janet Easley coordinated to help neighbors for Thanksgiving.</figcaption></figure>
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From cooking Thanksgiving dinners to running a turkey drive-thru
Date
November 20, 2024
Author
Sophie Young
41 years of feeding neighbors on Thanksgiving
Date
November 10, 2025
Author
Sophie Young
Thanksgiving 2025: Where to find a free meal or turkey in Indianapolis
Date
November 6, 2025
Author
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