The holidays seem to bring out the best in people, as Selbyville-based poultry processor Mountaire Farms proved once again this year with their Thanksgiving for Thousands holiday meal charity.
Coastal Point • JESSE PRYOR
Scores of volunteers work on packing Thanksgiving dinners for those in need throughout Delmarva.
In 2007, for the first time, Mountaire teamed up with Hocker’s Super Center in Millville and the Dagsboro Church of God to help raise money and food donations that will feed 14,000 people this Thanksgiving across Delmarva. And the annual event, now in its 13th year, saw more donations and more volunteers than ever before.
State Rep. Gerald Hocker was out at his Super Center on Saturday, along with Mountaire spokesman Roger Marino and volunteers from the church, collecting donations for the effort. Monetary and food donations started overflowing carts as more and more generous consumers dropped off items that will help make Thanksgiving much more enjoyable for countless needy families in the area.
“There are so many people caught in financial situations around this time of year,” said Marino. “A lot of people don’t realize the conditions that some people face.”
On Monday, Nov. 19, community members, students and church congregations, even athletes from the Delmarva Shorebirds, were at the Selbyville Mountaire warehouse, packing full-course meals for families in boxes that were then shipped across the region.
The number of volunteers topped 200, increasing well above last year’s help. Stuffing, instant potatoes, vegetables and cranberry sauce were boxed up, topped off with a chicken, courtesy of Mountaire. The meals were then sent off throughout the surrounding area to individual families, churches, government agencies and food banks.
“It’s wonderful to see people sitting down somewhere together to enjoy a great meal,” said Marino. “This way, they can even cook it the way they want, and they can invite friends and neighbors who are also hurting.”
Coastal Point • JESSE PRYOR
Delmarva Shorebirds employee David Bledsoe helps with loading meals.
Mountaire included a job application in every box, as well. “We want to give anyone out there an opportunity to make a difference in their own lives,” Marino added.
Mountaire employee Ray Perry gave some time out of his schedule to encourage food donations and contributions last Saturday, as well. Originally from Coney Island, N.J., he said he had no problem with walking up and asking shoppers to give something of themselves.
“All you have to do is go up and let people know what they can do,” he said. “They see everything we’re raising and they want to be a part of it. I think we’ll make a lot of families happy this year.”
“Thanksgiving is really a day that needs to be recognized,” said Marino. “It’s sandwiched right between Halloween and Christmas — two days that sort of steal all the attention away. Thanksgiving is a true American holiday, and it can’t be overlooked. It’s celebrated by so many cultures and demographics.”
Hocker himself was outside Saturday, soliciting donations.
“It’s great to be out here doing something like this for the community,” said Hocker, “and I’m happy to do it here. People have been very kind, and I think they realize how important this is to a lot of others. I hope this is something that we can work together on again in the future.”