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Easter Baskets, Dinner For 1,500 Families

SCRANTON — Easter hams, chocolate eggs, and marshmallow peeps were given out to thousands of people Wednesday in Lackawanna County. The Friends of the Poo...
lacka baskets

SCRANTON -- Easter hams, chocolate eggs, and marshmallow peeps were given out to thousands of people Wednesday in Lackawanna County.

The Friends of the Poor provides an Easter meal to those people only because of the monetary donations they receive during other holiday seasons.

The annual Friends of the Poor Easter basket distribution at the University of Scranton is a well-oiled machine. The ingredients volunteers stuff into bags will make up a meal but it also makes a holiday for folks who wouldn't otherwise be able to celebrate.

"It's just really tough, so it helps a lot. It really does. I'm here every year, so it really helps a lot sometimes," said Crystal Churchill.

The food helps a lot for Churchill and her four children, but she's most thankful for the help in providing an Easter tradition.

"To wake up in the morning and have the kids run downstairs and look at their Easter baskets and be so happy because they got an Easter basket in the morning on Easter."

Almost 2,000 children will receive a donated basket filled with candy and toys.

Friends of the Poor wouldn't be able to do all this if it weren't for the excess donations it gets during the Thanksgiving holiday.

Sr. Ann Walsh says this holiday meal means just as much.

"Everybody gets the same fresh food to put together to make a family meal. I think there's nothing better than sharing a meal with your family," Sr. Ann said.

"A ham and mashed potatoes, my grandkids love vegetables and ham and stuff like that. And it's just a great time for me and my family," said Joan Peterson of Dunmore.

It's that time with family, free of any worry that means the most to Joan Peterson. She's just one of a grand total of 6,000 people who will benefit from the Friends of the Poor this Easter.

"It's awesome, you know. I just thank God that this is here and they are able to provide food for a lot of people."

 

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