Sister Adrian Barrett may have hung up her sneakers, but the Friends of the Poor Thanksgiving Dinner is still on this year in Scranton.
Sister Adrian's successor said her main goal is to continue the tradition that was started 33 years ago but if the Thanksgiving dinner continues to grow, the efforts of volunteers will have to grow with it.
Sister Maryalice Jacquinot sat in her Jackson Street office in Scranton, talking as she dialed the phone. "Sister Adrian loved the phone. I'll say that's one way we're different," said Jacquinot. "I don't love the phone as much as she did."
Jacquinot has lots of calls to make anyway. She said at least several times a week she's dialing Sister Adrian's number. "I have to use a phone book to look up phone numbers and she has them all in her head. She did have notes for me, but you know, 33 years of history, she knew quite a bit," said Siser Maryalice said.
She has taken over for Sister Adrian, the founder of Friends of the Poor. Sister Adrian retired in January and has turned over the reins.
"That's what's great about this time of transition," said Sister Maryalice. "Sister Adrian is still very well, very knowledgeable, very well-connected and still able to give the advice and support that I need."
But Sister Maryalice has goals of her own for the Thanksgiving program, which she said is getting bigger every year. She's expecting 1,800 people to show up at the Scranton Cultural Center on November 24. She said next year they may have to have two seatings to make sure everyone gets a Thanksgiving meal. She added they also need more volunteers, like Trudy Dickson, who was recruited by Sister Adrian.
"Sister Maryalice is following in her footsteps and she's really good to the community. She's carrying it on, she does a really good job," said Dickson.
While Sister Maryalice has some big sneakers to fill, she said she's confident and thankful for the opportunity.
Interested volunteers should call Friends of the Poor at 348-4428 or 348-4429.
Monetary Donations can be mailed to: Thanksgiving Community Program Penn Security Bank 526 Cedar Avenue Scranton, PA 18505
Sister Adrian's successor said her main goal is to continue the tradition that was started 33 years ago but if the Thanksgiving dinner continues to grow, the efforts of volunteers will have to grow with it.
Sister Maryalice Jacquinot sat in her Jackson Street office in Scranton, talking as she dialed the phone. "Sister Adrian loved the phone. I'll say that's one way we're different," said Jacquinot. "I don't love the phone as much as she did."
Jacquinot has lots of calls to make anyway. She said at least several times a week she's dialing Sister Adrian's number. "I have to use a phone book to look up phone numbers and she has them all in her head. She did have notes for me, but you know, 33 years of history, she knew quite a bit," said Siser Maryalice said.
She has taken over for Sister Adrian, the founder of Friends of the Poor. Sister Adrian retired in January and has turned over the reins.
"That's what's great about this time of transition," said Sister Maryalice. "Sister Adrian is still very well, very knowledgeable, very well-connected and still able to give the advice and support that I need."
But Sister Maryalice has goals of her own for the Thanksgiving program, which she said is getting bigger every year. She's expecting 1,800 people to show up at the Scranton Cultural Center on November 24. She said next year they may have to have two seatings to make sure everyone gets a Thanksgiving meal. She added they also need more volunteers, like Trudy Dickson, who was recruited by Sister Adrian.
"Sister Maryalice is following in her footsteps and she's really good to the community. She's carrying it on, she does a really good job," said Dickson.
While Sister Maryalice has some big sneakers to fill, she said she's confident and thankful for the opportunity.
Interested volunteers should call Friends of the Poor at 348-4428 or 348-4429.
Monetary Donations can be mailed to: Thanksgiving Community Program Penn Security Bank 526 Cedar Avenue Scranton, PA 18505
