TikTok star Ismail Taher gives out Thanksgiving turkeys in suburban Chicago
COUNTRY CLUB HILLS, Ill. - A social media superstar is blessing families in the Chicago area, giving out turkeys for Thanksgiving in Country Club Hills.
On Thursday, TikTok star Ismail Taher was distributing hundreds of free Thanksgiving turkeys.
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The 28-year-old has more than 4.2 million followers on TikTok. He still lives in Tinley Park, where he grew up. His family owns a few businesses in town.
"It's a blessing. It's an unbelievable feeling to be able to give back to the community. We've given out about 200 or 300 turkeys," Taher said.
This is what the season is all about — giving back and being grateful and thankful.
At one point, the line to pick up a holiday bird stretched as far as the eye can see. Hundreds of residents filed into a parking lot along 183rd.
"This is so amazing. It’s so much needed in our community, just spreading love and not hate. That’s what this holiday is all about," one woman said.
Taher began working at his family’s taco restaurant at age 14 and graduated from Lincoln Way North High School. With support from Crescent Foods and through cash out of his own pocket, the TikTok superstar distributed 360 turkeys to local families.
"We use to watch people do things like this when I was a kid, and I wanted to be able to do the same thing for people," he said.