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Family to Family provides 'a big help' for those struggling

As Newswatch 16's Melissa Steininger reports, those families are now able to have a Thanksgiving meal.

SCRANTON, Pa. — Cars lined up, as far as the eye could see in Scranton, as trunks were filled with everything needed for Thanksgiving dinner.

"Times are hard," Joe Moore said. "A lot of people can't afford to buy food, so this is a big help."

"Everything's so expensive, it's so bad. I can't live anymore. I can't afford it," Roger Rossi said.

Volunteers were hard at work handing out free groceries to nearly 3,500 families.

It's the 37th year of the giveaway for the Family to Family program and one of the largest.

"The line is a little bit longer, so in that respect, it's sad, but we are so joyful that we have the opportunity to help, that the community comes out, whether it's to volunteer or just to be a part of this amazing day," said Linda Robeson, Family to Family director.

Families were given all the groceries needed to make their own traditional Thanksgiving, from the turkey to the cranberry sauce and everything to whip up all the fixings.

"That's the whole meaning behind Family to Family. Our families, all of our families, want to give other families the same holiday that we're hoping to have on Thursday," Robeson said.

For many, it's a meal that otherwise wouldn't happen and isn't taken for granted this time of year.

"A lot of families wondering where they're going to get a meal from for Thanksgiving, especially if they have little kids, so I think this is beautiful. I think this is nice," Laverne Strawder said.

A tradition of filling plates and hearts this Thanksgiving in Scranton.

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