Moton Circle residents get free turkeys from radio personality

ORFOLK

When national radio personality Steve Harvey said he wanted to help residents of Norfolk this Christmas, local DJ Theresa Brown knew just where to go: home.

Brown grew up in the city's Moton Circle apartment complex, a neighborhood now being looked at for demolition because of blight and crime.

On Thursday, she returned with 132 donated turkeys in tow, enough to provide a holiday dinner to every household in the complex.

"You always want to give back to the community where you grew up," she said as she hugged old friends and reminisced with others.

Residents will spend at least one more Christmas in the housing complex before Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority begins to move them out.

The authority hopes to build new houses and rental units on the land, tucked behind the city's Broad Creek neighborhood.

Harvey provided 100 turkeys each to 10 cities across the country. To make sure everyone at Moton Circle received dinner, the authority provided another 22 and the city's alumni chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity donated 10.

Residents clustered around a truck from 95.7 WVKL-FM as Brown went live with Harvey, who dubbed the day "Thank You Thursday."

Dequata Brown learned of the giveaway Wednesday, when the housing authority started spreading the word.

"Christmas dinner's going to be great," she said, envisioning the meal rounded out by cabbage and macaroni and cheese.

As Beyoncé played over the loudspeakers and residents grabbed 10- to 14-pound frozen birds, Clarence F. Nelson Jr., the housing authority's community relations manager for client services, said the donations raised the spirits of everyone involved.

"This is the spirit of Christmas."

Meghan Hoyer, (757) 446-2293, meghan.hoyer@pilotonline.com