Thanksgiving Turkey Drive

Giving back to the community, Chase Hebeler style

Nourishing Tampa Families

A Thanksgiving tradition of quiet generosity

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A tradition worth carrying forward.

James’s original shopping cart filled with Thanksgiving turkeys
Pictured above: The Instagram post by James Delio, published . #operationturkey

One idea. Dozens of shopping carts.

What started with James Delio, one of Chase’s closest friends of 23 years, posting a shopping cart full of turkeys soon became something much bigger.

Chase loved the idea and wanted to be part of it—to bring friends together and see how much more they could give. True to form, he went full throttle—as he would say—doing what he loved most: giving back to his Tampa Bay community.

Chase Hebeler, left, and James Delio, right, celebrating Chase’s birthday
Photo above: Chase Hebeler (left) and James Delio (right), seen above celebrating Chase’s birthday at Charlie’s Steakhouse in Tampa, Florida, in 2012.

Chase Hebeler

Chase Hebeler was born December 21, 1987, in Woodstock, Georgia. He later made Tampa his home, graduating cum laude from the University of South Florida with a degree in finance. He founded Power Mailers Direct, with James Delio as co-founder. He loved the Tampa Bay area and giving back to the community.

The following year he brought in two of his closest friends, Tommy Jackson and Webster Sanders, whom he considered his brothers, along with a few others.

A vehicle filled with Thanksgiving turkeys
Pictured above: Chase Hebeler’s turkey-drive post, tagged with Webster Sanders and 5 others.

“About to make 30 peoples thanksgiving better.”

From shopping carts to U-Hauls

Chase and Veronica in front of a truck filled with donated toys
Photo above: Chase Hebeler and Veronica Greca with a U-Haul filled with donated toys.

Countless families touched by his spirit.

Together they began loading pickup trucks and SUVs with turkeys. Before long, they were filling U-Hauls—turning a small gesture into something larger than life, just as Chase always did.

What began with Thanksgiving meals grew into Christmas giving, with U-Hauls filled with toys to bring joy to children on Christmas morning. The season changed, but Chase’s spirit of generosity remained the same.

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Chase and Veronica together on a beach swing

Chase & Veronica

Big hearts. Open hands.
Their legacy of love endures.

Veronica joined the effort later and stood beside him in the work he cared about so deeply. In 2023 they were tragically taken together in a car accident, but Chase’s generous spirit and the tradition he expanded continue to nourish families across Tampa Bay.

Aerial view of Metropolitan Ministries’ holiday tent with the Tampa skyline behind it
Metropolitan Ministries

Giving back, right here in Tampa

The turkeys have always been donated to Metropolitan Ministries in Tampa, helping put Thanksgiving meals on local families’ tables.

Help ensure families across Tampa have a warm meal this Thanksgiving.

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Thank you for keeping Chase’s tradition of giving alive.