2010 Recap: 

The 16^th Annual Mountaire Thanksgiving for Thousands Feeds Over 45,000 Delmarva Residents in Need 

On Monday, November 22^nd, hundreds of volunteers helped pack over 6,600 Thanksgiving Meal Boxes at the Mountaire Farms Selbyville Warehouse, marking the 16^th consecutive year of growth in the program.

(Selbyville, DE) – The 16^th Annual Mountaire Thanksgiving for Thousands program reached new heights on Monday, November 22^nd, when volunteers from across the Peninsula showed up in force to help pack a record 6,600 boxes of food, which were dispersed throughout the Delmarva community providing a nutritious holiday meal to more than 45,000 individuals in need. 

Since mid-October, Mountaire Farms, the American Legion, Hope & Life Outreach Ministries and the Dagsboro Church of God have been Waging War on Hunger, a campaign to collect food and monetary donations through food drives, as well as raise awareness of the growing hunger right here in our own backyard.  On Saturday, November 6^th, a force of 200 volunteers collected over 15,000 pounds of food during a massive one day food drive and helped create a buzz that carried over into Packing Day on November 22^nd.  Utilizing the 15,000 pounds of donated food and an additional 75,000 items purchased by Mountaire Farms, the hundreds of volunteers who arrived to help pack meal boxes saw they had plenty of work ahead of them. 

The diverse group of volunteers, which consisted of members of the American Legion, many of whom were bused in from Post 28 in Oak Orchard, DE, local school children, church groups and families, began manning the dual packing lines set-up inside the Mountaire Warehouse in Selbyville, DE at 8:30am.  Soon thereafter both lines were churning out finished meal boxes containing (2) cans of corn, string beans and peas; along with single cans of baked beans & gravy, plus a box of stuffing, brownie mix and a plump Mountaire Roaster.  Delaware Senator Tom Carper even dropped by to lend a hand, joining the assembly line process that was moving like a well oiled machine.

By 10am, the first 800 boxes were finished, loaded, and bound for HALO in Salisbury, MD, where they were distributed to organizations and individuals across the southern half of the Peninsula.  By 1pm, the remaining 5,800 boxes were on trucks bound for the Dagsboro Church of God for distribution to government agencies, churches, shelters, food pantries and individuals who had pre-registered to receive a meal box this year.

“For the past 16 years the same question is asked of us – why do we do this? And here are our answers: One – to provide food to those unfortunate citizens on Delmarva who can’t afford to purchase the ingredients to make a family thanksgiving dinner. Two – to provide multicultural persons an opportunity to cook the ingredients we provide in their own cultural medium. Three – to provide everyone involved with the food drive, the packing of boxes the distribution of the food in a communal meeting and greeting spirit, and the cooking of the meals an awareness of this one true American Holiday – Thanksgiving and the patriotic message it transcends and above all, the spiritual meaning that blends all the aforementioned ingredients into the true meaning of  giving thanks for all we have in a land of freedom, freedom of worship and freedom of opportunity.

To those American Legionnaires, Halo Ministries volunteers, Church Leaders, Governmental Agencies and Non-Profit participants, we say Happy Thanksgiving and we’ll see you soon in another spirit; the spirit of Christmas.” -  Blessings, Roger Marino, Mountaire Corporate Director of Community Relations.

Once again, Em-mings was on hand to provide a hot lunch of pulled pork and beef BBQ sandwiches, chicken noodle soup, cookies and iced tea to everyone who showed up to help.  A small thank you to those who gave up their time to ensure those less fortunate than them will also get to enjoy a warm thanksgiving meal from the comfort of home this season.

The 6,600 boxes packed this year topped the previous record total of 6,300 packed in 2009.  The ability to grow the program was due in large part to the expansion of the program to include Hope & Life Outreach Ministries in Salisbury, and an Army of volunteers from local American Legion Posts 28, 24, 19, 17, 6 & 5 out of Sussex County Delaware.

“If you would like to be included as a Captain in our growing Army- Waging War on Hunger as we continue to rattle our swords throughout the year at the pains of hunger, contact us at 302-934-3123 or e-mail rmarino@mountaire.com.”  - Roger Marino