An annual effort to feed thousands of people ahead of the Easter holiday took place on Wednesday in Scranton.
SCRANTON, Pa. — Two bags at a time, volunteers fill the back seats and trunks of cars moving down North Washington Avenue in Scranton.
It’s a transfer of goods from volunteers with the Friends of the Poor and Catherine McAuley Center to families in need of a helping hand this upcoming easter holiday.
“It helps just to make sure that another family has one less stress, one less burden, and that they’re able to make those happy holiday memories with their families that we get to make with ours as well,” said Meghan Loftus, Friends of the Poor.
Roughly 2,000 meals of ham, carrots, potatoes, and more are prepared and ready for families to cook and serve up this weekend.
The donated goods make a difference in a time of food insecurity, which Friends of the Poor CEO Meghan Loftus says is constantly growing, “We know that the need just keeps increasing, but unfortunately that means there’s less people able to donate, and so that was the max we could do, but we are putting all of our efforts into trying to increase that again for next year.”
Many of the recipients of the free meals thank the volunteers for making their holiday a little bit better.
“It’s very special to see that everybody can get help. Somewhere around the world, there’s help for everybody,” said Falva, Scranton.
And for those giving their time, the end goal is just helping others.
“They’ve done it so long that it’s kind of like riding a bike. You don’t forget how, and with all the volunteers that come, it’s just, you know, it just works,” said Susan Drumgould, a volunteer.
The Easter Family-To-Family Food Basket Giveaway marks the end of the nonprofit’s big three food drives.
Now the staff is looking forward to helping feed more people around the holidays later this year.