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ISHPEMING -- Food pantries nationwide are reporting a shortage of turkey donations for the upcoming holiday.

The Ishpeming Salvation Army says they'll need about 10 turkeys to feed the amount of people they anticipate for their November 23 turkey dinner.  Currently, none have been donated.

"Turkey is something special, it's become kind of a staple for this time of the year, especially for Thanksgiving week," says Ishpeming Salvation Army Captain Chris Marques.  "For these people, sometimes they don't often have a chance to be together as families."

Turkeys that are not used for the dinner will go to the Christmas Food Boxes program.

Last year, 280 families received the food boxes and toys.  They served about 1,000 people in the western portion of Marquette County.

Salvation Army is also low on volunteer bell ringers, which could reduce their funding to purchase items for the meal and boxes.

Donations of any kind can be brought in to the Salvation Army during office hours.  The turkey dinner is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., November 23 and is open to the community.