GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — In its 21st Turkey Drop Wednesday, Mel Trotter Ministries collected over 6,000 turkeys for those in need.

The Grand Rapids homeless shelter again partnered with Celebration Cinema, the Muskegon Rescue Mission and Gateway Mission in Holland to run the annual charity drive. Feeding America West Michigan will store and distribute the turkeys.

The goal for this year’s event was some 5,000 turkeys. By Thursday morning, a spokesperson for Mel Trotter said 6,148 turkeys had been collected.

The Turkey Drop ran from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 20. There were six drop-off locations:

In lieu of a turkey, people can make a financial donation to the program online at turkeydrop.org. Mel Trotter Ministries says every $20 works out to one turkey.

“West Michigan gives, so we are grateful and we are asking people to come out. Please come out with the turkeys — the physical turkeys, the virtual turkeys. We believe West Michigan can do that because it’s West Michigan,” said Chris Palusky, CEO of Mel Trotter Ministries.

Before the Turkey Drop began at 7 a.m., some neighbors had already started arriving with their donations.

“I really enjoy the fact that I can help somebody who doesn’t even have a chance to work, because of disabilities or whatever, and they may not have a good meal on Thanksgiving,” said Cascade Township resident Ken Zimmerman.

“The good Lord put us on this earth to lift each other up and not tear each other down. This is part of lifting others up,” Paul Piersma from Grand Rapids Township added.

Mel Trotter Ministries said that this year, “the level of food insecurity is greater than ever.” Food pantries around West Michigan that benefited from the WOOD TV8 Football Frenzy Food Drive also noted higher demand, with one in Zeeland saying its client base has increased 104% in the last three years.

Thanksgiving is Nov. 28 this year.