Swampscott student collects 45 turkeys to donate

SWAMPSCOTT-The strong desire to help, a few homemade flyers and a little hard work proved to be the perfect recipe for a Swampscott Middle School sixth grader who single-handedly collected 45 turkeys to donate to a Lynn soup kitchen this Thanksgiving.This is the third year Sophia Kennedy, 11, has collected turkeys for My Brother’s Table and, despite hard economic times, she more than tripled her success this year.?Last year I got 12 turkeys, but this year we got 45,” she said. “I was surprised because I didn’t think we’d get that many. I’m so excited.”Kennedy said she first got the idea to collect turkeys from reading the newspaper.?We saw something in the newspaper about a turkey drive,” she said. “So I wanted to have a turkey drive.”Kennedy then made up flyers on her home computer informing people that if they dropped off a turkey at her home she would make sure it was delivered to My Brother’s Table before Thanksgiving. She stuffed the flyers into mailboxes throughout her neighborhood. She also dropped off flyers at the Swampscott Police Station and Swampscott Fire Station.Kennedy admits the turkey drive was a lot of work, but she said it was worth every minute of it.?The worst part was going out in the cold,” she said. “But I’m glad I did it. Some of my friends helped me hand out flyers and a friend of mine at school donated some vegetables and squash to go with the turkey. It’s very exciting.”Her mother Debbie Kennedy said people were still dropping off turkeys at the Kennedy home at 9 p.m. Wednesday and Swampscott Firefighter Union Local #1459 dropped off $100 check to help out.?We had people we don’t even know showing up at the house to drop off turkeys,” Debbie said. “The response has been wonderful and we hope to make this annual event.”Sophia and her father Christopher Kennedy, who works at Farquhar & Black in Lynn, already made several trips to My Brother’s Table to drop off turkeys and on Wednesday afternoon they were back at with more donations.My Brother’s Table Executive Director Ilia Stacy said she appreciates the support the program has received, especially from the young people.?Kids bringing things in is wonderful,” she said. “I am continually moved by the number of kids who really understand that people need help and enjoy helping others. My Brother’s Table depends completely on the generosity and good will of our neighbors. The community has really stepped up this year.”Stacy added My Brother’s Table assists other programs in the area, including the one at Ford School.?We have got a lot of turkeys,” she said. “We’ll be well covered for Thanksgiving and were able to provide turkeys to other programs as well.”