Want to enjoy a free breakfast before Thanksgiving and maybe take home a turkey?

United Food Bank in Mesa is asking the community to donate turkeys, other holiday foods and cash to help feed tens of thousands of people in need this holiday season.

It’s just over the halfway point between last year’s Thanksgiving and this year’s. What better time to remind diners of the wonders of the bird that almost became the symbol of our country? To tide you over until November, here are my five favorite turkey sandwiches in the East Valley:

Scottsdale Unified School District Service Learning students delivered nearly 300 donated turkeys to Scottsdale and Phoenix homes of less fortunate families this week, district officials said.

At Thanksgiving, turkeys are in the spotlight, but not all of them end up on our tables.

ISTANBUL, Turkey - Reports that Turkey has massed a huge military force on its border with Iraq bolstered fears that an invasion targeting hideouts of Kurdish rebels could be imminent.

“I’m a purist with turkey,” says Judy Toth, owner of Simply Impressive Cooking School in Mesa. “Don’t mess with the turkey too much or it’s not Thanksgiving.” The bird made its Thanksgiving debut on the Pilgrims’ table; 385 sequels later the holiday is nothing without the turkey.

I’ve eaten approximately 40 turkeys in my life. Well, parts of turkeys that is. I have never tried to eat a whole one by myself, but I have collected my fair share of turkey experiences and every year brings something new.

Mesa’s Thanksgiving Day foot-race started in 1959 and is still a holiday tradition for many families. Three races, including a 1- and 2-mile fun run and a competitive 10K, have staggered starts between 8:15 a.m. and 9 a.m.