Donations for Thanksgiving Program Coming Up Short of Demand

United Neighborhood Centers’ Annual Thanksgiving Feed-A-Friend Food Basket distribution is just one week away, and UNC fears it will be unable to meet the growing community demand. Currently, the agency is $15,000 short of its goal needed to provide a food basket for each registered family. The Feed-A-Friend Thanksgiving Basket Program is currently in its 32^nd year and feeds families with children in Northeastern Pennsylvania, and provides each with a turkey and all the trimmings of a traditional Thanksgiving dinner.

Registration for the Thanksgiving Food Basket program is expected to increase to approximately 2,000 families before the registration period ends. While this number has remained consistent with previous years, the agency’s main concern is the decrease in community donations.

UNC is urging any community members who can afford to contribute to help through a monetary donation. This assistance is used to purchase the perishable portions of Thanksgiving dinner such as turkeys, and fresh fruits and vegetables. The cost to provide these items for a single family is $35, but a donation of any amount will be of great benefit to the agency. If you would like to make a monetary contribution, please send or drop off a check to United
Neighborhood Centers, 425 Alder Street in Scranton. Or, you can donate online at www.uncnepa.org/donate.

Any family seeking a basket must register beforehand at UNC’s Community Services Building located at 410 Olive Street in Scranton; Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. and Thursdays until 6 p.m. Distribution of baskets will take place on Tuesday, November 22 at the St. John Neumann Church in Scranton.