Ceo Backs Annual Holiday Food Distribution

WILKES-BARRE TWP. – Christian Roberts could have spent his Saturday playing video games inside his Dallas home.
Instead, the 8-year-old joined other volunteers racing shopping carts inside the J.B. Post Complex. They were picking up goodies for a Thanksgiving feast that were given to disadvantage families during the 28th annual food distribution sponsored by the Commission on Economic Opportunity.
“I enjoy helping people,” the third-grade Dallas Elementary student said. “It makes me feel good that I’m helping someone.”
More than 5,000 families in Luzerne and Wyoming counties will have the traditional Thanksgiving meal this year thanks to the annual CEO’s program, Dave Ritter said.
Ritter, a CEO supervisor, said there are more families that request food each year.
“This is our largest contribution to the community and with the price of gas and other services, there are more families in need,” Ritter said.
Hundreds of bags filled with canned yams, vegetables and cranberry sauce, gravy, noodles, pie crust and seasoning covered the floor of the large warehouse. Along the perimeter of the warehouse, volunteers were loading shopping carts with boxes of bottled water and soda, including individual containers of laundry detergent. Outside at the final stage, volunteers were loading the carts with turkeys before packing the food away in cars.
CEO supervisor Richard Kutz said all the food is donated from three primary sources: local corporate companies, the United States Department of Agriculture and private donations. The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Northeast Pennsylvania Food Bank is also heavily involved in the food distribution, Kutz said.
Food was given out based on family size, Ritter said.
Those requesting the food had to register and drive around the warehouse to pick up the food.
Art Long spent his time volunteering outside in the cold directing motorists in three rows that stretched around the warehouse.
“People are being nice despite waiting in line,” Long said. “They’re wishing me Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Holidays. It’s nice to see something like this happening.”
Back inside, Roberts’ sister, Desiree, 14, a freshman at Dallas Area High School, was busy working with Wilkes University freshman Carolyn Hulecek, 18, lifting boxes of bottled water from pallets and placing them in shopping carts.
“Our school’s Key Club volunteers in the community,” Desiree said. “It’s actually fun helping other people.”
“It’s been busy all day,” said Hulecek, a member of the Circle K Club at Wilkes.