Archbishop's web site Denver Catholic Register Parishes Catholic Pastoral Center
November 28, 2001
Carving for attention: Samaritan House Turkey Carve-Off
Annual Samaritan House media event highlights plight of homeless
By Alwen Bledsoe
Newspaper, television and radio news personalities traded their microphones and pens for aprons and gloves as they competed in the annual Turkey Carve-Off at Catholic Charities' Samaritan House Nov. 20. The yearly event serves to raise awareness of the homeless and to celebrate the 200 turkeys donated to the shelter by Honeysuckle White, said Shirley Meininger, executive secretary for Samaritan House.
As news cameras rolled, participants lined up behind a delivery truck and passed frozen turkeys from hand to hand before beginning the carving competition.
Thanking participants for their support, Father John Lager, O.F.M. Cap., director of Samaritan House, noted that Samaritan House has served almost 3,300 people this year and Catholic Charities in Denver has served nearly a quarter of a million.
"Without you we couldn't do what we do," he said.
Tables laden with fruits, vegetables and long toothpicks supplied the props for the most elaborate dressing the turkeys had ever seen. Squashes and mushrooms served as noses and potatoes as heads while a toy helicopter, flags and other trinkets rounded out the turkeys' costumes.
Jovial rivalry and a frenzy of carving soon produced abstract, patriotic and fun-loving designs. Turkeys wore bow ties and held flags. One masqueraded as a beach bum and one as the Statue of Liberty.
Residents of Samaritan House judged the carving, and after the 30-minute contest, emerged with a winner: WB2 News represented by Morning News Feature Reporter Dan Daru and Morning News Meteorologist Amy Freeze. The patriotic WB2 turkey sported a cheerful potato face, blue stars and a host of American flags.
Turning on the charm as cameras flocked to the winning table, Daru dipped Freeze in a mock celebration kiss and the two congratulated each other with loud whoops.
Rita Spotted Horse, Tom Garcia and Becky Brown were three of the judges.
"They just were enthusiastic, the way they was doing it," said Spotted Horse. "They had a lot of spirit when they was doing it."
Brown added that she was impressed that the two had clearly come in with a well thought-out plan.
The judges also handed out awards like "Most Patriotic," "Best Media Plug," and "Best Use of Provided Props" to all the other participants: the Rocky Mountain News, The Denver Post, the Denver Catholic Register, KHOW, Channel 4 News, Channel 7 News, Channel 9 News and Fox 31 News.
Brown, Garcia, and Spotted Horse, all first time Turkey Carve-Off judges said they enjoyed the festivities.
"It's something different," said Garcia.
Spotted Horse agreed.
"I liked seeing all the people getting together and working together, and having fun," she said.
"Having fun and being creative," added Brown.
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