Millions of people will be watching football on television on Thanksgiving Day, but there is another game of note happening in Roanoke on the day before Thanksgiving. That’s the day that Crystal Springs Elementary School will hold its 8th annual Turkey Bowl.
Every year, the school organizes a flag football game between the 4th and 5th grade students and donates the funds raised to the Roanoke Rescue Mission. This year, the Turkey Bowl will celebrate a milestone by reaching a total of $20,000 worth of donations to the Mission.
“We started this event to promote giving back during the holiday season,” says Wade Whitehead, 5th grade teacher and Commissioner of the Turkey Bowl. The school holds a drive several days leading up to the event in which the students will bring in spare change or dollars.
“Each year we set a goal to raise enough money to equal the year that it is; so this year the goal is to raise $2,014.” “We love donating to the Rescue Mission because they are a part of the neighborhood and they have such a great reputation for making every donation useful.”
On November 26, representatives from the Rescue Mission will be present at the event to see the students play and receive the donation check. This years’ donation will mark over $20,000 worth of donated proceeds to the Mission by the Turkey Bowl.
“This year, we have had as many as 80 children in one night in shelter at the Mission,” says Joe Overfelt, Minister to children at the Rescue Mission. “It is really touching to see the support from those children who are not homeless to help provide for those in shelter.”
The 5th grade class will also come to the Mission on Tuesday, November 25 and deliver handmade place mats and table favors for the Mission’s Thanksgiving Day Feast.
For more information about the Rescue Mission visit www.rescuemission.net,
