clayton sandell has more. >> reporter: volunteers at the denver rescues mission are standing by waiting for drivers to drop off thanksgiving turkeys. >> we had a slow time because of the recession. >> reporter: from california to connecticut charities nationwide report turkey donations dropped dramatically. >> we started the drive on november 1st. 10 days into it we have zero turkeys. >> reporter: charities are blaming a rough economy and turkey prices that this year average 20% higher. >> everybody in their own families is trying to scrape and save. i think it's a little harder, people aren't as generous. >> reporter: for people in need volunteers say the impact goes beyond one holiday meal. >> when turkey donations are down we can't provide the same kind of services we normally would in the community. it's services for seniors, homeless, children, victims of domestic violence. >> reporter: as word of the turkey trouble spreads more people are donating but many groups still haven't met their goals. with time running out before thanksgiving, empty storage freezers are slowly filling up.

clayton sandell, abc news, denver. >> and if you want to help put a smile on the face of a child and a family enjoy thanksgiving, we'll post the food banks in need on abcnews.com/worldnews. >>> and here in new york today, the payouts range from $3,200 to more than a million. >>> and, a little more than a month after the chilean miners were rescued, a drama is playing out in new zealand. 29 men missing after a powerful gas explosion in a coal mine where they were working. two workers managed to stumble out of the mine, but it's still not safe for rescue crews to begin the search. what the chinese people we met think of america. >>> and, the homeless man who found $3,300 in cash and tracked down the student who lost it to give it back. he's our "person of the week." [ man ] if it was simply about money, every bank loan would be a guarantee of success. at ge capital, loaning money is the start of the relationship, not the end. i work with polaris every day. at ge capital, we succeed only when they do. whoo! awesome! yes! we've got to get you out of the office more often. ♪ my turn to dr

clayton sandel, abc news, denver. >>> coming next on "good morning, maryland, a mayor stephanie rawlings-blake has nearly been on the job ten months. but names you might recognize have said they want the top job in city hall. we will run the roster down. >>> and it's colder but some you have die-hard fans are getting excited. we will tell you when orioles fan fest will take place. >>> and if you want to get to new york for under 40 bucks take the mega bus. now the discount bus company will take baltimoreans to new locations for the same low rate. plus... >>> area college are taking more safety precautions in light of on campus robberies. i am sherrieionson, coming up, the advice police offer student. if only there were a place where banks competed to save me a boatload of money on my mortgage -- that would be awesome! [sarcastically] sure. like that will happen. don't just think about it. spend 10 minutes at lendingtree and save up to $272 a month. for constipation relief... nothing works better than miralax. it's the one. the one recommended by more doctors. only miralax is clinically proven

clayton sandell, abc news, denver. >> as with everything else, the price is certainly up. feed ten people a full thanksgiving dinner, turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, cranberries and peas, for ten people, is $44. which doesn't seem like a lot but ends up being a lot when you're feeding that massive scale. >> that's not bad at all. good news for one charity out in nevada, they literally got a ton of turkeys delivered. good news for the folks in that part of the country. let's hope the spirit of giving catches on despite the tough times. >>> returning to our top story when we come back, the new royal couple. >> did you hear about this? prince william and his bride to be and why their romance fascinates so many. that's next. >>> and now back to our top story this morning. the royal engagement. he is second in line of course to the british throne, and she is a commoner, kind of, with some middle-class roots. >> no matter how you look at it, brittle william and kate middleton are certainly in love. how did these two unlikely lovers meet? here is nick watt with their fairy tale