BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Thanksgiving holds the tur-key to everyone’s heart.
- New Bethany Ministries will collaborate with Provident Bank and the IronPigs to collect frozen turkeys for families in need for Thanksgiving
- The goal for this year is to gather up to 1,000 turkeys due to an increase in need
- The first 500 people donating frozen turkeys on Nov. 18 will receive gifts from the organizations
For the third consecutive year, Provident Bank, New Bethany Ministries and the Lehigh Valley IronPigs will collaborate to hold a frozen turkey drive at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown.
Visitors to the ballpark 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Nov. 18 can donate a frozen turkey that will go to a family in need.
New Bethany Ministries has been distributing turkeys and sides for families in the community since 1985, according to Marc Rittle, executive director.
“We are truly grateful for the outpouring of support from our community of volunteers and donors, especially now, our clients who are facing extreme poverty, hunger and homelessness need our support more than ever,” Rittle said in a news release.
Provident Bank, whose sponsorship for the event is in its sixth consecutive year, includes the refrigerated truck donated by Tom Mesko, a customer of the bank.
“This important initiative exemplifies our organization’s caring culture and our fundamental belief in helping those in need in the communities we serve,” said Anthony Labozzetta, Provident Bank, president.
"We haven't yet heard from our full list, and it easily could hit 1,000."Executive Director Marc Rittle, New Bethany Ministries
According to Rittle, the number of turkeys distributed by New Bethany has grown to about 700 annually thanks to Provident Bank’s help.
However, the organization has seen a surge in turkey needs this year; so far, there have been 800 requests from New Bethany guests, residents and other community groups.
"We haven't yet heard from our full list," Rittle said. "And it easily could hit 1,000."
He also encouraged people who cannot participate in person to text "lvturkeydrive" to 41444 and donate money. Rittle said the full amount of the donation received will go toward Thanksgiving dinners for families.
Rittle added that since August 2022, the lunch lines at Mollard Hospitality Center and Trinity Kitchen, two of New Bethany's meal centers in Bethlehem, have grown and the number of people in need has gone from an average of 120 per day to 180 at both sites combined.
“In our food pantry, we have seen a 150% increase since January 2022, a tripling of the number of families who have relied on our free nutritious grocery service,” he said.
Rittle said the measure for food insecurities is based on the attendance at their food pantry and meal centers.
IronPigs President Kurt Landes also encourages the Lehigh Valley community to donate turkeys for families struggling to provide their own.
“As the holidays approach, it’s even more important to help give back to others,” he said.
New Bethany has given out more than 10,000 meals in the past 20 years, which includes 3,000 frozen turkeys collected by Provident Bank in the last six years.
Visit the IronPigs’ website or contact New Bethany Ministries at 610-691-5602 for more details on the frozen turkey drive.
