Chalkboard: Del Mar student raises $4,200 for Thanksgiving turkey giveaway

Del Mar Middle School eighth grader Tala Sarhangi volunteers Nov. 24 at Big God Ministries’ turkey distribution event in Marin City. Sarhangi raised more than $4,200 for the food drive by going door-to-door in her neighborhood and reaching out to friends and family. (via Tala Sarhangi)

Del Mar Middle School eighth grader Tala Sarhangi raised $4,200 in just three days for Tiburon-based Big God Ministries’ annual Thanksgiving turkey giveaway.

The 13-year-old Tiburon resident says she was inspired after learning about recent disruptions to the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which provides food benefits to low-income families, in her history class earlier this fall.

The program, known as SNAP, was in limbo during the 43-day U.S. federal-government shutdown from Oct. 1 to Nov. 12. Officials at the time announced SNAP payments scheduled for Nov. 1 wouldn’t be dispersed to recipients because of the shutdown, though payments had resumed by mid-November.

“I kind of realized I’m very lucky to live in such a nice town where, you know, needing money for food is not as big of an issue,” she says. “I really wanted to give back to our community and help as much as I can.”

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