Palmerton business helps provide turkeys for those in need

The holidays are a time for giving, and a Palmerton organization is teaming up with a local business to do just that.

For the seventh consecutive year, Country Harvest Market covered the cost of over 1 ton of turkeys, which are provided free to Palmerton families through the Christian Action Council of Palmerton Area Churches food pantry.

“This is something we really enjoy doing, and we’ll do it as long as we can,” Country Harvest co-owner Richard Nothstein said on Friday morning, when families were able to pick up their turkey at St. John’s Towamensing Lutheran Church on Fireline Road.

By noon, almost 100 turkeys had been distributed, well on the way to meeting the annual average of 150 to 180.

“It’s really a blessing for us to get to do this,” said Karen Kaiser, who volunteered Friday along with Beverly Hargreaves and Jane Scherer. “Country Harvest has been very generous, and I think Palmerton as a whole is a very giving community when it comes to the food pantry and helping those who need it most.”

Turkeys were far from the only item distributed on Friday. The food pantry also gave out chickens and all of the usual trimmings that go with a Thanksgiving meal such as stuffing, vegetables and gravy.

To be able to pick up boxes from the food pantry, families must reside in the Palmerton Area School District. Distribution events are held once a month. During nonholiday periods, the boxes usually contain items such as peanut butter, cereal, canned goods, condiments and personal care items such as soap, shampoo, toothpaste, tissues, toilet paper and paper towels.

“We’re very fortunate as most of the churches gather food for us, and we have a lot of support from the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts,” Kaiser said. “The Leo Club also did a great job during the Halloween parade of going around with shopping carts, which Country Harvest provided, and collecting items. A lot of people are really in need, and there is great support in the community.”

Pantry volunteers said any turkeys not distributed Friday would be stored and given out around Christmas.