Pass the stuffing because this Thanksgiving, the turkey is on Chuck.

Chuck Schneider, a local real estate developer and owner of Unique Stuff and Spa on the Lake, both located in Oxford Village, donated $2,000 to Oxford-Orion FISH to help purchase Thanksgiving dinners for local folks in need.

“I have been blessed with a successful and rewarding life,” Schneider said. “It is everyone’s responsibility to help those who are less fortunate during the upcoming holiday season. I hope others will make a donation to support FISH.”

FISH expects to provide Thanksgiving meals to 200 families this year. FISH gives each family a $15 gift certificate to purchase a turkey – or other meat or groceries – plus bags filled with all of the trimmings, including potatoes (regular and sweet), gravy, stuffing, cranberry sauce, vegetables, canned fruit, etc.

FISH Vice President Julie Howald explained holiday meals like this are not counted as part of their clients’ monthly allotment of food, which is measured in pounds and based on the number of family members.

“This is something extra,” she said. “Holidays should be special whether you can go out and buy what you want at the store or not.”

Howald is grateful for Schneider’s donation, which she said will pay for two-thirds of those Thanksgiving gift certificates.

“It’s much appreciated,” she said. “It took me by surprise when he called me.”

FISH President Laurene Baldwin was also thankful for Schneider’s donation.

“It’s just a wonderful gift,” she said. “It helps us out. It eases our burden. We appreciate it very much . . . That was very, very kind of him.”

The money FISH is saving on Thanksgiving gift certificates can now be used to purchase other food products to help keep its pantry well-stocked the rest of the year, according to Howald and Baldwin.