For the 21st consecutive year, California Water Service Company will donate Thanksgiving turkeys to local families in need through a program called Operation Gobble.

Since its inception in 1988, the statewide program has fed hundreds of thousands of people. Legislators participate in the program by recommending charities in their districts that can help with distribution.

This year, Cal Water will distribute 420 $15 gift certificates, good for the purchase of a turkey or any turkey product, to charities.

Donating gift certificates rather than frozen turkeys will give additional flexibility to the charities and families that participate in the program. If a family does not wish to prepare a whole turkey, it can purchase ground turkey, turkey breasts or turkey bacon. And distributing gift certificates rather than heavy frozen birds eliminates the need for delivery trucks.

Distribution of the gift checks was scheduled to take place on Nov. 23 at various locations in Thousand Oaks and Westlake Village.

This year’s recipients are the Boys & Girls Club, Senior Concerns/Many Mansions, Manna, FOOD Share and Lutheran Social Services.

Operation Gobble was initiated by the California Water Association, a consortium of privately owned water utility companies throughout the state.