Marlin Mechanical Corp. of Phoenix flexed its charitable muscle a little Nov. 25 in an effort to make sure that as many folks in the surrounding communities had an opportunity to enjoy at least the poultry portion of the traditional Thanksgiving meal. The contractor anted up 100 gobblers to the local St. Mary's Food Bank.

   According to Marlin Mechanical president Mark Giebelhaus, the word on the street prior to the holiday was that St. Mary's was "way down" on its food contributions this year because of increased demand brought about by a slowing economy.

   So, where in the world do people of a philanthropic bent find a bulk quanitity of turkeys just a scant day or so before the tradiational festivities?

   "At Fry’s food stores," Giebelhaus said. "They have a distribution center here. Actually, we decided to do it that Monday and called around town for the best price. We then picked them up Tuesday and delivered them."

   Giebelhaus said this year's contribution marks the first time the company participated in such an activity in five years. And, since St.Mary's is a food bank rather than a kitchen, the Marlin folks weren't manning ovens or chow lines this time around." 

   "Several years ago, the guy who owned PF Changs, Ze Tejas and the Flemings Steakhouses [Paul Fleming, a major philanthropist] was attempting to set up a temporary food kitchen to serve needy folks at Christmas," Giebelhaus recalled. "The city shut him down and made him do it to code and he had to have sewer and water and etc. We did the service at his restaurants at the time so he called us to do the plumbing for this temporary kitchen. Of course it was last minute and when our guys finished the work, they stayed and cooked and served food on their own time. That was pretty cool."