To a family of seven, sending slicked-up frozen turkeys skidding and bouncing down the alley to knock over bowling pins is more than a strange game.
It's the promise of a happy Christmas.
Luther's Rare & Well Done restaurant in downtown Beaufort is sponsoring turkey bowling to raise money for a local family facing tough times.
"We really wanted a family who's had an extremely hard year," fundraiser coordinator Cherrie Wiles said. "We really wanted someone who needs help."
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The unidentified family of two parents and five school-age children -- two of whom are disabled -- live in the area. Luther's will match proceeds raised from the bowling, owner Bev Stavac said, and the family will receive gifts, clothing, food, a decorated Christmas tree and Christmas dinner.
"It's so nice to see someone happy," Stavac said. "Kids should be blessed on Christmas. They should be blessed every day of the year."
This is Wiles' fourth year of turkey bowling, which she discovered while living in the Florida Keys. Proceeds previously went to Toys for Tots, but this year's family was discovered through the Salvation Army, Wiles said.
Bowling began two weeks ago and occurs several days a week through Dec. 16. Each night about $100 is raised, she said.
On a recent Friday night, Wiles hustled up and down the back steps of Luther's in a bushy fur hat, cajoling customers into forking over $5 for four chances to send a turkey tumbling down the 36-foot-long wooden lane.
"You hike it through your legs like a football; you don't bowl it like a bowling ball," she said.
Women hike a four-pound turkey breast, while men launch a 14-pound whole turkey, both coated in cooking spray for optimal sliding. The turkeys stay in their plastic wrappers -- except for one that slid out one night recently -- and participants wear rubber gloves.
Bowling starts at about 8 p.m. and typically ends at about 11 p.m. Then the turkeys are stripped of their wrappings and dropped into the Beaufort River to become dinner for crabs.
Follow reporter Erin Moody at twitter.com/EyeOnBeaufort.
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