SCRANTON, Pa. — Once again, the pandemic is changing the way some organizations help those in need this Thanksgiving.
A Thanksgiving dinner for 3,000, all packed inside the Scranton Cultural Center and maskless seems like a million years ago. This decades-long holiday tradition is different again this year due to COVID-19.
Friends of the Poor announced that its 45th annual Thanksgiving dinner will again be held outside on the street drive-thru style to keep everyone safe. It's planned for the Tuesday before Thanksgiving.
"The challenges are great, but we have some amazing volunteers. This is the second year we're doing it, so we'll have a year of experience to run off of. A lot of problem solvers and volunteers go at it and get those problems solved," said Brady Funkhouser, with Friends of the Poor.
The day after the Friends of the Poor Thanksgiving dinner is the Family to Family food basket distribution, which is being held in a new location this year—at the Armed Forces Reserve Center on Olyphant Avenue in Scranton.
Family to Family is also preparing to feed more people than ever.
"Last year, we fed 3,000 families. We were prepared for 3,000 families and ran out, and had to give gift certificates to several hundred people. So, this year, we're prepared with 3,500 turkeys and we're hoping that that will certainly help," said Linda Robeson.
Family to Family says with all that extra food comes an exponentially bigger price tag. Organizers estimate feeding those extra families will cost $25,000.
"There's been an increase in price for turkeys and all of the things that we try to get every year," Robeson said.
On top of their annual efforts around Thanksgiving, Family to Family and Friends of the Poor teamed up to feed people during the pandemic. The organizations have held 40 food distributions since April of 2020.
"'I think compared to last year, we've been consistently amazed with the generosity of the community," said Ryan Robeson. People have been donating throughout the year because they've been doing so much work. The community really stepped up."
Friends of the Poor and Family to Family are in need of donations to cover costs.