Montana’s real THANKSgiving- You Did It Again!

UPDATE 11/21/25 Thanks to Alfredo and the team at El Cazador, who donated 150 turkeys, the final count of birds was 935 turkeys! And when coupled with all final cash donations, the dollar amount hit $11,700. 😃

Every year, when we launch into the Guerrilla Turkey Drive, there's a great sense of worry. Will we be able to meet the needs of food banks stretching all the way from Darby to Missoula to Superior? Where can we find the hundreds of turkeys necessary to help the hungry have a good Thanksgiving? What about cash donations? And do we move hundreds of birds and keep track of it all?

2025, the 31st year of the Guerrilla Turkey Drive, should convince us Western Montana residents know EXACTLY what to do, because the annual effort on Z-100 and our other Townsquare Media stations like KYSS-FM and The Blaze has once more reaffirmed our belief in you, your big hearts, and ability to step up.

This year's drive was especially critical, given the recessionary economy in Montana, with high prices, layoffs, and the interruption of SNAP food assistance. But our listeners rose to the challenge, and moving into the closing hours, you had donated 783 birds, and $1700 in cash (one of the largest cash donations we've ever seen.

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Every year, there's a Turkey Drive miracle

That happened on Tuesday this year, when our partners at Missoula Chevrolet asked for help in moving 400 birds down Reserve Street in a "Turkey Caravan" that turned heads. The big Chevy trucks were loaded to the brim. Other major donors, like The Reno, remain as dependable as ever, delivering 100 turkeys on Thursday.

Meanwhile, individuals from all over the area stopped by the station, or caught up with KYSS' Dennis Bragg on his Bitterroot run, to donate individual turkeys, whether it was a single bird or several. Old friends like Wayne showed up with 54 turkeys, and OS2 Office Solutions with 48. Missoula Smokejumpers gave $500.

And we loved meeting listeners like Magoo and his little grandson Waylon, who donated on Monday, and then found us in the fog on Thursday with another bird, showing generosity knows no age limits.

     All the donations again this year counted towards the community-wide "Can the 'Cats" food drive.

Big thanks to our Guerrilla Turkey Drive sponsors

In addition to Missoula Chevrolet, we'd also like to thank Clearwater Credit Union, the wonderful refrigerator truck from LineHaul Logistics of Missoula, and True North Direct Primary Care.