Barakah Muslim Charity brought holiday relief to hundreds of local families on Saturday as it hosted its annual turkey giveaway.

Founded in 2013, the Rochester-based organization provides a wide range of support services, including food and clothing assistance, inmate support, counseling, and medical screenings. For this year’s giveaway, the team set an ambitious goal.

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Alma, the charity’s operations and finance director, said they hoped to distribute turkeys to about 600 people and families.

“For the past few months, obviously we have had issues with the SNAP program, so the needs have grown,” she explained.

When News10NBC visited shortly after the event began, volunteers had already handed out turkeys to roughly 200 families.

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The demand, Alma noted, reflects the increasing financial strain many households face ahead of the holidays.

“Something like this is a major stress relief for families going into the holiday season,” she said.

Barakah Muslim Charity operates out of Jefferson Avenue, where it also runs a weekly food pantry and community kitchen to provide consistent support beyond the holiday period.

The pantry is open Thursdays from 5–7 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m.–1 p.m. During the same Sunday hours, the charity serves a hot meal through its community kitchen, offering a welcoming space for anyone in need.

Through its annual giveaway and ongoing programs, the charity continues its mission of uplifting vulnerable residents and reinforcing a sense of community across Rochester.