Redskins narrow turkey giveaway to Prince George's neediest

The Washington Redskins are keeping their turkeys a little closer to home this year.

Only residents of Prince George's County will be eligible to receive free turkeys during the team's annual Thanksgiving food giveaway Tuesday at FedEx Field in Landover.

And to make sure the free food reaches families most in need, only residents who have been qualified by the county Department of Social Services will be given the turkeys and side dishes.

It is a big change for the event, which has drawn people from across the Washington region since it was started in 2003.

But the head of community relations for the Redskins said the giveaway has always been intended to serve the people Prince George's, where the team began playing in 1997.

"Each year our focus has been to serve those in need in Prince George's County, home of FedEx Field," said Betti-Jo Corriveau, the Redskins' vice president of community and charitable programs, in an e-mail. "We made this adjustment because we wanted to be sure that we were super-serving Prince George's County and those with the greatest need within the County."

Harvest Feast, as the giveaway is called, is expected to distribute 3,000 turkeys and more than 100,000 pounds of other food, Corriveau said. The event is sponsored by the Redskins, the charity Operation Blessing, Harris Teeter supermarkets and the Prince George's Department of Social Services.

"It's important in this uncertain economy for the public and private sector to partner wherever possible and appropriate to address the gaps in services for residents in need," Gloria Brown, the agency's interim director, said in a statement.

Residents interested in receiving a free turkey can call 301-909-7153 to see whether they qualify. A social services spokeswoman would not disclose the income eligibility requirement, saying only that it "meets federal standards." About 1,600 people have been qualified, she said.