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With Thanksgiving approaching, many families are gearing up for their annual feast.
And as they have done for decades, the Commission on Economic Opportunity’s Weinberg Northeast Regional Food Bank is gearing up to assist those who lack the means to partake of the holiday’s bounty.
CEO’s 40th annual Thanksgiving Project expects to distribute food packages to more than 9,000 families throughout Luzerne and Wyoming Counties this year, officials said, in what they say is the largest and longest serving holiday food distribution in Northeastern Pennsylvania.
“The Thanksgiving Project provides all the ingredients for a traditional Thanksgiving dinner, including a turkey and all the trimmings, to those who might not have one otherwise,” as well as an assortment of fresh produce, said Judge Hugh F. Mundy, president of the CEO Board of Directors.
“It’s a reminder to the rest of us that the fortunate must share with those in need on the day we give thanks for our nation’s bounty,” Mundy added.
How to participate
Pre-registration is required for anyone interested in signing up for a delivery, and registrations will be accepted through Nov. 22.
Registration can be done online (www.ceopeoplehelpingpeople.org), by phone (570-825-0968 or 570-208-7017) or in person (165 Amber Lane, Wilkes-Barre). Phone and in-person registrations will be accepted between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Proof of residency and identification is required for all household members.
Food distribution will take place at the former Wyoming Valley Mall Sears store over the next two weekends (Nov. 16-17 and Nov. 23-24).
How to help out
Organizers expect more than 400,000 pounds of food to be distributed by 1,200 volunteers, and volunteers will prepare and deliver over 600 meals to homebound volunteers on Thanksgiving Day.
Potential volunteers and donors can support the effort by visiting www.ceopeoplehelpingpeople.org or www.givefood.org.
For those who want to donate by mail, the address is P.O. Box 1127, Wilkes-Barre, Pa. 18703-1127.