Friends of the Poor is sponsoring three community-based programs to help those in need this Thanksgiving: The Thanksgiving Dinner for Adults and Elderly, the Family to Family Thanksgiving Food Basket Program, and the Interfaith Prayer Service. In light of the current pandemic, each will be carried out in a different style than they have for the past four decades.

The Interfaith Prayer Service, which kicks off holiday programming by celebrating the gratitude, joy, and hope that are a part of every faith tradition, will be held on Friday, Nov. 19 at 7 p.m at Temple Hesed.  All are welcome to join.  

The Thanksgiving Dinner for Adults and Elderly, initiated by the late Sister Adrian Barrett, IHM in 1976 with 24 guests in need of a meal and family to share it with, will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 23.  Dinners will once again be packed as take-outs and handed out to those in need outside of the Scranton Cultural Center, 420 N Washington Ave, Scranton, from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. in a drive-by event due to the ongoing pandemic.  

Volunteers will distribute the meals on the corner of North Washington Avenue and Vine Street.  Meals will also be provided to those adults and elderly who were previously transported to the dinner through a partnership with Lackawanna County Area Agency on Aging and the Junior League of Scranton.

The Family to Family Thanksgiving Food Basket Program, directed by the Robeson family, will continue in the same manner as the COVID-19 Emergency Food Distributions that have been held since March 18. 

On Wednesday, Nov. 24 in the parking lot of the Armed Forces Reserve Center, 3401 Olyphant Ave, Scranton, from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., volunteers will place the groceries needed for a traditional Thanksgiving dinner in the car trunks for all those who need it.  

For the past decade, over 2,500 families have been served from theThanksgiving basket program alone.  Due to the pandemic and increased need in our community over the last year and a half, we expect to serve up to 3,500 families at this year’s Thanksgiving distribution.

Friends of the Poor, the Robeson Family, Lackawanna County Area Agency on Aging, and Scranton Area Ministerium, are proud that in times of great uncertainty and increased need, our community has come together to find a way to continue our great Thanksgiving traditions.

We humbly ask all people to reach into their hearts and donate whatever they can. The Robeson family has ordered over $150,000 in food items, including 3,500 turkeys and trimmings to make the baskets. A donation of $30 sponsors a family of four. Please send your donation of $30 or whatever you can afford to:

Family to Family Program 
PO Box 13, Scranton, PA 18501
friendsofthepoorscranton.com/family-to-family-food-basket-program

**Donations may also be made by texting “thanks” to 570-525-5956**

Friends of the Poor is looking for donors to cover the cost of the 76 30lb turkeys that are ordered, along with other food and takeout items. Call the Friends of the Poor office at 570-340-6086, email friendsofthepoor@fotp-ihm.org, or send donations to:

Friends of the Poor
Thanksgiving Community Dinner
2300 Adams Ave., Scranton PA 18509
friendsofthepoorscranton.com

Friends of the Poor would like to note that 2021 marks 45 years of our community’s commitment to and compassion for our less fortunate neighbors, who would otherwise go without a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. The success of these events would not be possible without your support.