Last month’s “Fill the Boot” fundraiser netted the Davis Professional Firefighters Association Local 3494 about $5,300 for its annual Thanksgiving food basket program.

But even with sizable donations from Davis Waste Removal and Sacramento’s DH Construction added to that, the association is short of its goal for feeding 650 families this holiday season.

“Unfortunately, we’re almost $4,000 short for 650 turkey (dinners),” said acting Capt. Luis Parrilla, coordinator of the food basket program.

It costs about $15,000 to purchase that many Thanksgiving feasts, and a $4,000 funding gap means slashing the list of recipients by about 20 percent, or 125 families.

Parrilla said he has sought additional donations from other area sources, but most if not all have already committed to other organizations.

Those wishing to donate toward the program may send their contributions, with checks payable to Local 3494, to P.O. Box 896, Davis, CA 95617.

The Thanksgiving turkey basket program dates back to 1986, when a local fire crew sitting down to its own holiday dinner heard a knock at the firehouse door. On the other side was a mother and her children, hungry and begging for food. The crew pooled their money and bought the family a meal.

Firefighters have continued the tradition ever since, feeding as many as 750 families even during times of recession. The baskets are handed out the day before Thanksgiving, assembled that morning in another annual tradition attended by firefighters, their families and other community members.

— Reach Lauren Keene at [email protected] or 530-747-8048. Follow her on Twitter at @laurenkeene

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