As Thanksgiving approaches, Sendero Health Plans, an Austin-based non-profit health plan provider, has distributed 1,000 turkeys and accompanying side dishes to Austin's elderly and low-income families. This initiative, known as Turkey Fest, is a much anticipated annual event organized by Sendero Health Plans with the invaluable contributions of volunteers and community partners. More details about the event can be found CBS Austin.

Partnering with Austin Public Health's East Austin Neighborhood Center, Austin Public Works, the Central Texas Food Bank, and Austin ISD, Sendero Health Plans ensured that the Turkey Fest event was more than just a dream.

This year's turkey giveaway event by Sendero Health Plans is to continue a tradition established during the previous year. The 2021 event also provided 1,000 whole turkeys to elderly, disabled, and low-income Austin residents, not unlike this year's initiative. Marking Sendero Health's 10 years of dedicated service, the event was also held in collaboration with Austin Public Health's East Austin Neighborhood Center as per Cision PR News.

Expressing his views about Turkey Fest, Rudy Ybarra, the director of business development for Sendero Health Plans said,“I think that what we’re here to do is to help each other, leave this world a better place than we found it,” CBS Austin report. With a desire to see such initiatives continue to make a difference in the years to come, Ybarra reflected upon the innate spirit of helping embodied in such efforts.

During the event, Austin residents queued up to receive turkeys and side dishes from volunteers. These recipients were primarily individuals who sought assistance, such as utility help, rental support, food aid, or medical care, from the neighborhood service center throughout the year per CBS Austin report.

The event saw 31 Austin Public Works employees volunteer. Among them, Lazaro Cardenas, a supervisor for the city of Austin Watershed Department, responded positively about his service, "It’s always fun. They get to interact with the neighborhood, and we're also meeting the residents out here, ‘cause we do a lot of the work for them out in the street." CBS Austin report. The event laid out delivery services to provide meals to the most vulnerable population. Notably, two vehicles were loaded with 45 turkeys to be delivered to a local elementary school.

As an active participant in community activities, Sendero Health Plans is dedicated to improve the health of the local community by delivering affordable, quality healthcare coverage. Notably, Sendero Health Plans have received a Four-Star Quality Rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid. This rating has established Sendero Health as the only and highest-rated health plan in Texas, and the first to achieve this distinction in Central Texas earlier this year.