An especially tough financial year has led some organizations in our area to step up efforts to help struggling families.
The response to Tuesday's food giveaway by the Salvation Army in Scranton was overwhelming.
At 1 p.m. on the dot, volunteers began loading.
Cars lined up around the corner. The people inside them were hoping for free groceries.
"Check comes the first of the month. (By the) middle of the month, we've got no money left," said Dan Reid of Moosic.
Police were called in to direct traffic, as the line wrapped around the block.
People waited in line for hours. Organizers said it just shows how strong the need is for food donations.
"We just did our Christmas applications two weeks ago and consistently, with almost every interview they asked, 'Are we going to get any food?'" related Captain Christin Kapp of the Salvation Army.
After those interviews, organizers decided they couldn't wait until Thanksgiving to help.
The donated food came in a tractor-trailer from the Weinberg Food Bank in Wilkes-Barre.
Volunteers packed the goods into 300 bags to give out to anyone who showed up, no questions asked.
Some people in line consistently receive help from area food banks.
"Yes, this is important to us," said a woman who gave her name as Shirley.
For others this was the first time they have turned to donations for food, such as a mother Karen Walsh, who recently became unemployed.
"We just found out that this is here and we're very grateful that it is here," Walsh said.
Because of the overwhelming response, Salvation Army officials said food giveaways will likely become a monthly occurrence, even after the holidays come and go.
The response to Tuesday's food giveaway by the Salvation Army in Scranton was overwhelming.
At 1 p.m. on the dot, volunteers began loading.
Cars lined up around the corner. The people inside them were hoping for free groceries.
"Check comes the first of the month. (By the) middle of the month, we've got no money left," said Dan Reid of Moosic.
Police were called in to direct traffic, as the line wrapped around the block.
People waited in line for hours. Organizers said it just shows how strong the need is for food donations.
"We just did our Christmas applications two weeks ago and consistently, with almost every interview they asked, 'Are we going to get any food?'" related Captain Christin Kapp of the Salvation Army.
After those interviews, organizers decided they couldn't wait until Thanksgiving to help.
The donated food came in a tractor-trailer from the Weinberg Food Bank in Wilkes-Barre.
Volunteers packed the goods into 300 bags to give out to anyone who showed up, no questions asked.
Some people in line consistently receive help from area food banks.
"Yes, this is important to us," said a woman who gave her name as Shirley.
For others this was the first time they have turned to donations for food, such as a mother Karen Walsh, who recently became unemployed.
"We just found out that this is here and we're very grateful that it is here," Walsh said.
Because of the overwhelming response, Salvation Army officials said food giveaways will likely become a monthly occurrence, even after the holidays come and go.
