DES MOINES – First Lady Mari Culver on Monday will deliver Thanksgiving meals, including turkeys, to four Des Moines shelters serving women and youth in need. She will visit Youth Emergency Shelter Services, Iowa Homeless Youth Center, Beacon of Life, and New Directions Shelter.

The Iowa Turkey Federation donated two turkeys for each shelter and staff at the Governor’s Office donated other food for the Thanksgiving meals.

“The Thanksgiving holiday is a time for sharing our blessings and at this special time of year it’s important to remember our fellow Iowans in need,” the First Lady said. “The gift of food is a small way to let women and children in shelters know that they are in our thoughts this holiday season.”

The First Lady will begin the day with a tour and media availability at Youth Emergency Shelter Services, which has received $248,609 from the Culver/Judge I-JOBS initiative for shelter renovations. Below is the schedule of the First Lady’s shelter visits on Monday.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009

WHAT:   
First Lady Mari Culver will deliver Thanksgiving meals to four Des Moines shelters.

11:30 a.m.       
Youth Emergency Shelter Services
918 SE 11th Street
Tour and media availability

12:15 p.m.       
Iowa Homeless Youth Center – Lighthouse Host Home
1216 MLK Jr. Pkwy

1:00 p.m. 
Beacon of Life

1:45 p.m. 
New Directions Shelter
3001 Grand Avenue