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A local, dedicated community advocate with deep roots in Austin is making a remarkable impact in the city through her inspiring work with Operation Turkey Elgin.
Shametra McGregor, born and raised in East Austin, began her journey in community service in 2006, volunteering at the H-E-B Feast of Sharing event. She later joined United Way’s Day of Caring, where she discovered her passion for eradicating hunger.
Over the past two decades, Shametra has dedicated herself to this cause, including a decade of volunteering for crisis intervention and resources for crime victims.
Since 2014, Shametra has been actively involved in hosting food drives and collecting monetary donations for the Central Texas Food Bank. Her commitment to addressing food dis- parities in her community has now brought her focus to Elgin, where she has taken on the role of City Leader for Operation Turkey Elgin.
Shametra launched Operation Turkey Elgin in spring 2023, hitting the ground running to support the city. With a dedicated team of 65 volunteers, the initiative successfully delivered 1,100 meals in its inaugural year, according to the organization.
Shametra’s advocacy is also deeply personal, rooted in her family’s history in Elgin. Her grandmother gave birth to her mother at Fleming Hospital in 1960, now the Fleming Community Center and Pool Facility — a symbol of progress and positive change, according to the volunteer.
With continued community support, Shametra is determined to expand Operation Turkey Elgin’s impact. The organization, which operates without paid employees, relies on community awareness and fundraising.
Shametra is optimistic about reaching the 2024 goal of preparing and delivering 2,500 meals to Elgin and surrounding cities.
Operation Turkey Elgin: How to Get Involved
Operation Turkey “believes in the power of community” and the impact that collective effort can make. The organization is thrilled to welcome Elgin to its growing family and is thankful for the dedication of its volunteers. This Thanksgiving, the organization invites the community to join in spreading love and kindness by supporting its mission.
The organization is gearing up for its Turkey Tailgate event the day before Thanksgiving and will distribute meals on Thanksgiving Day at Firewild On Main in Elgin. Volunteers are needed to prepare and deliver the meals, also seeking food donat ions and sponsorships.
The organization relies on the generous support of the community to continue its tradition of giving. As 2023 marked the initial activation year, there is excitement to build on this new tradition in Elgin, according to McGregor.
Every donation makes an impact, and with continued backing, Mc-Gregor is determined to expand Operation Turkey Elgin’s impression and ensure that no one in the community goes hungry this Thanksgiving.
Over the last 24 years, Operation Turkey has remained a 100% volunteer organization without a single paid employee — with more than 50,000 volunteers nationwide.
