JENKINS TOWNSHIP, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)— Most anniversaries you hear about means that those doing the celebrating receive a gift.
But when the celebration is for the anniversary of 28/22's parent company Nexstar, it is about "Giving Back".
28/22's Mark Hiller explains how northeastern Pennsylvania benefits from this year's Nexstar Founder's Day of Caring.
Instead of serving up the news at CEO Weinberg Northeast Regional Food Bank, the 28/22 News crew is helping serve members of our community in need.
Dozens of us are teaming-up to volunteer packing boxes of food.
The goal? To feed the hungry as part of this year's Nexstar Founder's Day of Caring.
"We're doing something different that we don't normally do every single day so it's nice to kind of intermix with each other and know that we're all doing something for the greater good," said Candice Kelly, anchor, 28/22 News.
"Faster, and here comes the cereal," a woman said.
Each packed box contains a variety of donated food items including cereal, canned vegetables and fruit, and even canned meat.
The boxes will be delivered to families and individuals struggling to put food on the table.
"So we are seeing a tremendous need in the community. We have over 300 members of the food bank who are consistently seeing higher numbers of families coming in to receive food products," explained Jennifer Warabak, executive director, CEO Weinberg Northeast Regional Food Bank.
These nutritious care packages will head to more than 300 food pantries and individual recipients in four counties: Luzerne, Lackawanna, Wyoming, and Susquehanna.
The packages cannot be delivered soon enough, especially this time of year.
"School is out right now so the summer is when we feel that a lot of families struggle with having kids home from school," stated Mary Ellen Spellman director, CEO Weinberg Northeast Regional Food Bank.
Hunger does not take summer vacation. It does not take a holiday. Hunger does not stop.
Making sure no kid goes hungry is major motivation for 28/22 News to pitch-in.
"Well, we see the need, you know, every day when we do stories on this to actually know that you're a part of the solution at a station that supports the solution, that's a big deal for us," voiced Nick Toma, anchor, 28/22 News.
"WBRE and WYOU being here today to volunteer means the world to those recipients of the food boxes," said expressed Waraback.
What better way to celebrate Nexstar's 29th anniversary than by its 200 television stations giving back from coast to coast, including northeastern Pennsylvania where it all started in 1996.
"It's great to be part of this history that now is happening all over the country and it kind of all has roots back to our area is a special thing and it shows that even a small town can make a big difference," said Rachel Malak, anchor, 28/22 News.
28/22 news will volunteer again Saturday at CEO Weinberg Northeast Regional Food Bank for a third day of Nexstar Founder's Day of Caring.
