Keepin’ it Real – Free Turkeys for the Neighborhood

Dec 052011

Mellon Convenience Store in Congress Heights gives away frozen turkeys to those in need each year.

One business owner in Southeast Washington, DC decided to give back to his customers. Ephrame Kassaye set out to change what it meant to ‘give someone the bird’ in his neighborhood by literally giving people birds! Once a year this convenience store owner gives away over 350 turkeys to those in need during a block party he sponsors.

Kassaye, originally from Eritrea, is proud to tell customers that he lives in the District. He is married with a 7-year-old daughter. He said he was interested in owning a business for as long as he can remember and worked as a cabdriver and as a bellboy in downtown hotels before opening the store.

Within two years, he had made back the more than $100,000 he invested to renovate and lease the building, a former church. He could have kept on just like that — buying inventory, taking customers’ money, replacing the shelves with more inventory. But Kassaye wanted to do more.

He’s not sure how the idea started, but one day he found himself calling around asking where he could buy hundreds of frozen turkeys. He talked to police at the local precinct about how to get a permit to close off Mellon Street for a block party.

He reached out to the local advisory neighborhood commission representative for community support, and in 2009 the turkey giveaway was born. He said he spent about $6,500 on Sunday’s event.

It’s obvious by reading the article that the customers benefit from the giveaway and that Kassaye benefits by getting to know his customers better. This isn’t the only charitable community event Kassaye holds. He also does a giveaway for backpacks and other school supplies once a year. The events are so large the city helps him with coordination.

We couldn’t help but feel a kinship with Kassaye during the holiday season. He completely embodies the idea of improving the lives of others. We’d like to thank him for Keepin’ it Real! We’ve sent him a thank you, but we know it is probably nothing compared to the thanks he gets from his customers.

Click here to view a photo gallery of the giveaway!