The United Way of Southeastern Connecticut had to make a tough decision this holiday season: either focus its resources on one holiday meal or fund numerous meals during the winter months when food donations are low.

As a result, the United Way is not buying turkeys for its annual distribution but is instead relying on donations from the public to help fill Thanksgiving baskets.

"I read somewhere that the average cost of a Thanksgiving meal was around $49," said Jill Davoll, marketing and communications director at the United Way of Southeastern Connecticut. "A donation of just $1 provides 10 meals, so we thought it was wiser to use that money to provide for meals during the winter months when donations are really down."

The Gemma E. Moran United Way/Labor Food Center will be accepting turkey donations at its site at 374 Broad St. in New London until Friday to help its partner agencies complete their turkey baskets. Turkeys donated after Friday will be stored and used to fill requests for Christmas baskets.

Dina Sears-Graves, vice president of community impact at United Way, said the agency received 1,800 requests for turkeys or hams from more than 80 partner agencies.

She said the agency had about 300 turkeys before those donated last weekend during turkey drives. She said several turkey drives taking place on Saturday, including one by the New London Police Union at Shop Rite in New London from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., should help bolster turkey counts.

"The reality is that we probably aren't going to be able to fulfill all the requests," said Sears-Graves. "That's why we are encouraging people to attend the community meals that are being provided throughout the region. We would encourage people to invite people to their homes and share a meal with them. The holiday is about sharing and spending time as a community."

Sears-Graves said agencies were made aware that they would not be able to buy turkeys in order to give them time to use other resources and partnerships to help fulfill their basket requests. She also said the United Way bought 528 chickens at a deeply discounted prices that agencies were able to buy and provide to their clients.

"We had to think creative," said Sears-Graves.

Jennifer Blanco, feeding site and mobile food pantry manager, said the people who are making basket requests are struggling to pay bills, or work but don't make enough money to buy food, or are disabled or recently laid off.

"Every donation helps...no matter how little," said Blanco.

Davoll said after the holidays, especially in January through April, donations to the food pantry get really low.

She said the United Way is participating in "Giving Tuesday" on Dec. 1 in the hopes of raising money to keep the food center stocked during the low donation months.

"We try to remind the community that, unfortunately, hunger is a year-round problem, not only at Thanksgiving," said Davoll.

To find a community meal on Thanksgiving, visit:  https://www.uwsect.org/thanksgiving. To donate to the United Way, visit: http://www.uwsect.org/give.

i.larraneta@theday.com

Twitter: @larraneta