Turkey has become an annual

Christmas tradition for officers of the Peachtree City Police Department.

For the third year in a row,

George Vuduris of Vuduris Marketing and the city's three Kroger stores

have joined together to spread holiday cheer by providing a smoked turkey

for each and every member of the police department.

Roughly 80 birds were cooked

Tuesday by Vuduris, whose day began at 4:30 a.m. Most of the turkeys went

to police employees, but about 15 were provided to needy families, Vuduris

said.

The turkeys were provided by

the city's three Kroger stores in the Braelinn, Kedron and Peachtree

Crossings shopping centers. The stores' managers, Paul Yellina, Gene

Edens and Carrie Phelps pitched in to wrap up the turkeys for transport.

Vuduris, who was joined by

wife Leisa, son Zac and daughter Ashley, said the original idea started

as a way to say thanks to police officers.

Chief James Murray noted this

is the only time each year he allows any of his officers to receive gifts.

"That's because it's

done by friends," Murray said.