LEHIGHTON, Pa. — Trucks are filling up with Thanksgiving meal fixings outside the Giant supermarket in Mahoning Township. It's part of Operation Give a Gobbler.
The collaboration between state police and Colossal Radio in Lehighton is all to support the Valor Clinic Foundation's holiday meal program.
"I was on Doc's show, and we decided to help out Valor. On Facebook, they posted they give three meals to veterans on Thanksgiving and Christmas, and I said that is impressive, so let's do something," explained Trooper Anthony Petroski.
Five years later, the operation has grown. This year, organizers collected more than 180 turkeys. Mark Baylis with The Valor Clinic says his volunteers will pack more than 550 boxes for veterans this Thanksgiving.
"We don't want them to worry about picking between paying the electric bill or taking their daughter to the dentist. We want them to celebrate the holiday with their family now that they are home," said Mark Baylis, founder of the Valor Clinic.
"We tend to overlook things like a simple meal, and our veterans have given so much to us. It is time for us to give back to them, and that is what today is all about," said Trooper Petroski.
Because of all the donations from Operation Give a Gobbler, Valor Clinc say they're set for the Thanksgiving meals. Now they're thinking ahead to Christmas.
"I think we are going to be about 200 towards Christmas, so we are chasing Christmas next, but we got over the hump," said Baylis.
On top of all of the donations that filled the trucks, Operation Give a Gobbler collected $10,000 to buy other needed items.