A 20-foot-tall by 23-foot-wide metal gobbler returned to Town Center Corte Madera this month as a place to drop off non-perishable donations during the annual holiday season food drive.
The functional art project, dubbed “The World’s Largest Turkey” by its creator, invites the public to help those in need during the holidays with an artful twist on the typical donation box.
Marking its 33rd year, this annual tradition is organized by the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank, which distributes the canned goods to food insecure families across Marin County and San Francisco. To participate in the food drive, people can deposit non-perishable items under the wing of the turkey where stairs lead up to a clearly marked sign. Donations will be collected through Dec. 31.
According to the food bank’s 2025 Hunger Report, more than 20% of people experience food insecurity in California, and the circumstances are being exacerbated by federal cuts to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, known as SNAP.
“With Thanksgiving around the corner and the recent lapse in SNAP benefits due to the government shutdown, more families than ever are struggling to put food on the table. Your support is critical,” the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank said in a statement.
The giant mechanical turkey was created by Corte Madera resident John Lister, a former set designer for the visual effects company Industrial Light and Magic. Mary Vezie and Katherine Hermann designed the color scheme, while Ken Sly of Dimensional Graphics designed the structure.
Each metal piece was cut through a process called computer numerical control, or CNC, which created precise custom-designed shapes for the turkey’s feathers. David Feind of Parts and Templates shaped the material using an automated machine controlled via computer.
Although the official title of world’s largest turkey statue belongs to “Big Tom” of Frazee, Minnesota, according to locals — which stands 22-feet-tall and weighs nearly three tons — the art installation in Corte Madera is volunteer-driven and has established itself as a yearly holiday season tradition with a purpose.