WILKES-BARRE — For some people, it’s about giving back on Thanksgiving; for others, it’s something to do.
Nearly 45 volunteers and St. Vincent de Paul Kitchen employees set about doing different tasks early Thursday morning as the kitchen readied more than 700 hot turkey meals for delivery to area high-rises as well as for the enjoyment of nearly 300 people who arrived for an in-house lunch.
“We do this every day,” said Mike Cianciotta, the kitchen’s program director. “The only difference is, we also deliver today.”
Volunteers Steve Williams, Mike Manganiello and Ron Walsh arrived at 7:30 a.m. at the kitchen on East Jackson Street, prepared to do whatever was needed.
Manganiello, who has been donating his time and car to this annual effort for 20 years, said he set tables this year. Afterward, he was among the first in line to pick up hot meal containers.
“It’s tradition,” he said, as he, Williams and Walsh waited line to pick up 60 food containers intended for residents of the Frank P. Crossin Towers in Duryea.
As two assembly lines formed to pack the containers, Manganiello noted that he “knew the faces” because most of the volunteers come back year after year to continue to serve.
Rachel Lewis, of Howard, wasn’t going to get home for the holiday, so she and her friend decided to help out. “It feels good,” she said.
Each delivery container included pieces of turkey, sweet potatoes, carrots, salad, filling and gravy. Separate containers each held a slice of pie.
Once at Crossin Towers, the volunteers needed to be “buzzed in” to gain entry.
“Meal delivery,” Manganiello said to a voice on the intercom. “Can you let us in?”
Once inside, it took the trio a few trips from their van, but they brought all 60 meals in and set off to work.
“Happy Thanksgiving,” Walsh said as he knocked on a door. “Meal delivery.”
Carol Palmer greeted him through an open doorway, saying, “Hello!” She was watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade when the trio showed up.
After the men set the two containers on her table and went on their way, she told a Times Leader reporter it was “very nice” to get a “visit, albeit small” from smiling faces. “It means someone is thinking of us,” she said, then began talking about her family in Virginia.
Meal recipient Denise Goham echoed Palmer’s sentiments.
“It means someone cares, related or not,” she said.
Across the hall, Donald Warner was speechless as Walsh brought meals for he and his wife, Elizabeth. “It’s wonderful,” he said, smiling.
The volunteer trio spent about an hour going through four floors, making sure all on the list that Cianciotta handed them were checked off.
After dropping off Walsh and Williams, Manganiello was going back to the St. Vincent de Paul Kitchen to make sure no volunteer had “put them in a jam” by backing out, and that everyone who had been expecting a meal had been satisfied.
“It’s the best feeling there is,” Manganiello said.
