EAST STROUDSBURG -- Hundreds of families in Monroe County will have a Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings thanks to the Salvation Army. This year’s turkey feast was made possible with help from college students.
The lines of cars waiting for Thanksgiving dinners is even longer this year than last in East Stroudsburg. About 125 more families in Monroe County needed help putting the trimmings on the table and East Stroudsburg University’s sororities and fraternities heard the Salvation Army needed help making ends meet.
"When we heard about this, it was a big opportunity to help out in the community and just raise money for something that's such a good cause because everyone deserves a Thanksgiving,” said Alpha Omicron Pi member Jenna Bartman.
The university’s Greek organizations decided to pledge $7,500 to make sure every family would have a turkey on the table.
"Honestly, it was a lot of fun raising money at football games and other fundraisers,” said Delta Chi member Alexander Keim.
"Just the way that everything's worked out for this has been just utterly fantastic. For me, East Stroudsburg University they really saved the day for us here,” said East Stroudsburg Salvation Army Major James Gingrich.
Thanks to East Stroudsburg's sororities and fraternities, a freezer is packed with enough turkeys for 770 families and that's not all the Salvation Army has to be thankful for.
"As of Monday, we had collected enough in our bell ringing efforts so far to cover the cost for all the food that we purchased today which was about $23,000 - $24,000 dollars,” said Major Gingrich.
And after each car is loaded up, one more family is able to enjoy a holiday feast.
"We wouldn't have it if it wasn't for everybody pitching in and helping. Thank you, and God Bless,” said Deann Allen.