Eileen Lukowsky, of Ford City, picks up a can of green beans to put in the basket yesterday afternoon.
by Jonathan Weaver
All the trimmings local residents think about for a Thanksgiving meal – including mashed or scalloped potatoes with gravy, stuffing and vegetables – are also available to those less-fortunate.
Starting next week, those families can pick up free Thanksgiving baskets at the Kittanning Salvation Army along South Jefferson Street. A group of a half-dozen volunteers completed the first 120 baskets yesterday
Lieutenant Amber Imhoff said, while all Armstrong County residents are eligible for the baskets, families who receive a basket next week cannot already receive food courtesy of the Community Action food bank.
Still, Lieutenant Amber has “no idea” how many families will stop in from 9AM-3PM Monday through Thursday.
“I will just keep going back-and-forth to the store if need be,” Lieutenant Amber said. “We want to service people that are not going to be receiving any sort of assistance for Thanksgiving. A lot of our families that aren’t approved for the food bank don’t receive food stamps, but still need some extra help.”
Much of the food that will be given out was donated by other local residents. Lieutenant Amber also encouraged community residents to donate their complimentary Thanksgiving turkeys or Christmas hams they receive at the grocery store if they will go unused.
The Kittanning Salvation Army donates turkeys to Grace Presbyterian Church in Kittanning and Grace Brethren Church in West Kittanning for their Thanksgiving Day dinners.
The branch community dinners will be held next Tuesday and Thursday instead of Thanksgiving week.
Nadine Wise, of Worthington helped three young boys pick out winter clothing during Project Bundle-Up a few weeks ago at the WalMart in East Franklin Township and decided to volunteer again yesterday.
“I enjoyed (volunteering) very much,” Wise said. “I think they were a little intimidated at first, (but) by the end of the night, we were singing across the WalMart parking lot to each other as we left.”
Wise has hosted Thanksgiving dinner for the past 14 years - since her daughter, Delaney Garmer, was born. She is also making turkey for the Richard G. Snyder YMCA Thanksgiving luncheon next Friday.
“It’s family, and sometimes we have (friends of the family) who just didn’t have somewhere else to go,” Wise said. “It’s an open invitation.”
Wise, a Richard G. Snyder YMCA instructor, couldn’t quite relate why she reaches out to those in-need, but said she would “absolutely” help with Project Bundle-Up again next year. She also wants to help with December’s toy distribution – which last year helped more than 900 children.
“I feel very grateful for everything I have,” Wise said. “I would like to get my family more involved.”
Helen Kaufman and Ruthann Wineburg were two other volunteers yesterday from the Woodmen of the World insurance group.
“We try to help out where we’re needed,” Kaufmann said.
Lieutenant Amber thanked all those volunteers who helped finish the first 120 baskets.
“It worked out nice – many hands make light work, and it went quick,” Lieutenant Amber said.
Baskets can also be picked up Monday, November 23 and Tuesday, November 24.
Families who pick up a food basket will also receive a certificate for a pumpkin pie from Cake Concepts in Kittanning and a $10 voucher to use at Shop `n Save in East Franklin Township’s Franklin Village Mall.