After 32 years of the United Neighborhood Centers' annual Thanksgiving Food Basket program, the group has never fallen short of its mark, or turned away a needy family.
Executive Director Mike Hanley does not intend to start now.
"There's many people year after year that give," Mr. Hanley said. "It's a part of their Thanksgiving tradition."
Now in its 33rd year, the Thanksgiving Feed-A-Friend Food Basket Program is hoping to raise $30,000 to try and feed nearly 2,000 families. Registration for a basket begins today at the agency's Community Services Building, 410 Olive St., Scranton.
Last year, the program helped feed more than 1,500 families. The number of families varies from year to year based on the economy.
"It has been as low as 1,400 and as high as 2,200," Mr. Hanley said.
Families can register through Nov. 16, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. and on Thursdays from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m.
The group is also distributing food to the Carbondale and Upvalley area through the Upper Valley Project Hope Committee, UNC Director of Grants and Communications Alison Woody said. Residents there can register at St. Rose Parish Hall, 6 N. Church St., on Nov. 8 and 15 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and on Nov. 13 from 9 a.m. to noon.
Distribution will begin for Scranton on Nov. 20, while distribution will begin in Carbondale on Nov. 19.
In each basket, families will receive a turkey and three bags of groceries containing potatoes, carrots, bread or croutons, cranberry sauce, celery, onions, apples, pumpkin pie mix, pie crust mix, nondairy whipped topping and canned vegetables, Mr. Hanley said.
Registering families must have children under the age of 18 living in the household, proof of income of any kind and any form of documentation of family members in the household, Ms. Woody said. She is expecting a high demand this year, as the food basket program's demand is usually reflective of the food pantry's demand, which has been high in recent years.
"Over the past two years we've seen a lot more people coming in than ever before," Ms. Woody said. Thanksgiving intensifies that need since it's such a food-related thing."
Next week, the group will begin ordering the food, taking it on faith that the community will rise to the challenge, said Mr. Hanley. In previous years, the community has always rallied and come up with the money needed to cover the cost, Mr. Hanley said.
Anyone interested in donating either money or food to the group should call 346-0759 or go online to www.uncnepa.org/donate.
Contact the writer: jkohut@timesshamrock.com, @jkohutTT on Twitter