SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — With Thanksgiving in a little over two weeks the Salvation Army is offering families in Scranton and Dickson City a way to stretch their grocery budgets.
Every third Thursday of the month the Salvation Army hosts a choice food distribution, and this month the event will fall on the week before Thanksgiving, giving families the opportunity to get what they need for the holidays
The Choice Food Distribution' isn't just about giving out food. It's about giving families a chance to pick out what works best for them
"One of the reasons why we do a choice food pantry is we don't want to just throw stuff in a box and say here just take this and go. We're giving them the opportunity to shop for what they're looking for, what they need, everybody has different traditions at the holidays," said Captain Neil Childs from The Salvation Army.
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While the pantry will of course have the staple foods, with Thanksgiving around the corner, families can expect to see some of the traditional fixings up for grabs.
"Definitely going to have some typical things we already collected stuffing and we've collected a lot of the green beans, corn, stuff like that, we're anticipating having turkeys," says Captain Childs.
Serving families across Scranton and Dickson City this month, the Salvation Army is focusing on meeting people where they are at a time when everyday expenses are pinching budgets tighter.
"Especially with the way the economy has been as of late with the prices of groceries for crying out loud, it is harder and harder and we know the struggle a lot of families are having at this time of year so we try and do this so we can at least alleviate one bill off of their plate," explained Captain Childs.
The event is first come first serve but registration is required
"We're expecting a huge turnout, we are registering 250 we have already just over 100 signed up, registration opened up yesterday, and we're looking to keep it open until we have the 250 mark, so if you want to register, register quick," continued Captain Childs.
You must live in the Scranton or Dickson City area to register for the Choice Food Distribution, for information on how to register give them a call at 570-969-6399 or stop by their office.
