MOOSIC, Pa. — Rock 107's morning radio host Prospector is at it again, driving his giant shopping cart through the streets of Lackawanna and Luzerne counties. It's all to help feed families in need.
The street-legal grocery cart brings attention to collecting food and monetary donations for CEO Weinberg Food Bank. The donations are then distributed to food banks across northeastern Pennsylvania.
"Just the look on people's faces when you drive this street-legal shopping cart through the streets of northeast PA. It's one of those surprised looks. It's amazing."
But the Prospector, Rock 107 morning radio host, has been doing this for a long time, so many drivers probably aren't even surprised anymore when they find themselves behind a giant shopping cart on their daily commute.
The annual "Prospector's Pantry Raid" kicked off Monday morning at Gerrity's supermarket in Moosic.
He'll drive around Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties Monday and Tuesday, making pit stops at Gerrity's locations and a few local businesses, collecting cash and nonperishable food.
"We take that, put it in the shopping cart, it looks all fancy, and eventually it gets to the folks at the CEO's Weinberg Food Bank, and they distribute it to tons of pantries throughout northeast PA."
While the visual is ridiculous, the cause is serious. Staff at the food bank tell us they're seeing more and more people asking for help.
"Unfortunately, right now, we do see a big need. A lot of pantries are asking for more food, more deliveries because their shelves are being depleted," said Amanda Brueckler, from the Weinberg Northeast Regional Food Bank.
Joe Fasula knows why. As the co-owner of Gerrity's supermarkets, he sees the reason firsthand every day.
"Everybody knows the cost of food is up. you see it in your grocery bill. And we're trying really hard to save people money, but there's just so much inflation. We're getting cost increases like every other month now, where we used to get them maybe once or twice a year," Fasula said.
"This year is more important than ever." — That's been the refrain from everyone involved in this effort for there years in a row now, and it continues to ring true.
"I don't think that we're going to see this stop. I think the cost of food is going to keep going up unless there's some sort of big crash in the market," Fasula added.
But the Prospector is showing no signs of slowing down. The Pantry Raid shopping cart will continue its cruise for a cause here in our area.
"It's so much fun, and it's so great to see some people coming year after year, and sometimes you get these stories where, 'A couple years ago, I needed help. Now I'm in a position to help.' That just makes you feel so good that so many people are willing to give back in northeast PA," The Prospector said.
The Pantry Raid runs Monday, August 22, 2022, and Tuesday, August 23, 2022.
Newswatch 16's Elizabeth Worthington spotlighted the event Monday morning at Gerrity's in Moosic and explained how to get involved.
Prospector's Pantry Raid will be riding through Lackawanna County and Luzerne County on Monday, August 22, and Tuesday, August 23.
To make a donation online, click here.
Check out his schedule here:
Monday, August 22
- Gerrity's in Moosic, from 5:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.
- Jo-Dan Buick GMC on Birney Ave. in Moosic from 9:15 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
- Highway Federal Credit Union on Laurel St. in Pittston from 10:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.
- Gerrity's in West Pittston from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
- Old Mill Pine on Exeter Ave. in West Pittston from 1:00 p.m. to 1:45 p.m.
- Gerrity's in Wyoming from 2:30 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.
- Gerrity's in Hanover from 3:45 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Gerrity's in Luzerne from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday, August 23
- Gerrity's Supermarket/Gerrity's ACE Hardware on Keyser Ave. in Scranton from 5:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.
- NET Credit Union on Mulberry St. in Scranton from 9:30 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.
- Gerrity's ACE Hardware on Main St. in Peckville from 11:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.
- Century Dental on Route 6 in Eynon from 12:00 p.m. to 12:45 p.m.
- Gerrity's ACE Hardware in Clarks Summit from 1:15 p.m. to 1:45 p.m.
- Gerrity's Supermarket in Clarks Summit from 2:00 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.
- Gerrity's Supermarket in West Scranton from 3:30 p.m. to 4:15 p.m.
- Gerrity's Supermarket in Meadow Ave from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.