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PITTSTON &#8212; Two groups from St. John the Evangelist Parish are working to ensure those in need are well fed and warm this winter.The Greater Pittston Food Pantry and the Knitting Ministry will hold their annual Christmas Turkey, Trimming and Winter Coat Giveaway at the former Seton Catholic High School building Dec. 16.Peggy Burke, food pantry coordinator, said the event is for people already served by the food pantry.&#8220;It&#8217;s for local low-income families that have been preregistered and been receiving food from the food pantry,&#8221; she said. &#8220;This is a big special event because a lot of organizations provide turkeys for Thanksgiving, but we provide them for Christmas.&#8221;In addition to turkey, patrons will receive milk, fresh fruits and vegetables.The food is donated by local organizations as well as Commission on Economic Opportunity, or CEO, which is dedicated to providing food to low-income families.Burke said 40 to 50 volunteers will pack food and help families carry it to their cars. Food not donated will be used for weekly food pantry meals.While the food portion of the event is important, Burke stressed the need for gently-used winter coats.&#8220;Right now, we have about 300 coats and we&#8217;d like to get anywhere between 500 and 600,&#8221; she said. &#8220;It&#8217;s not for 400 individuals, we&#8217;re providing for 400 families. In addition to the coats, we are also looking for gently-used hats, scarves, gloves and blankets.&#8221;Burke mentioned the reason for collecting adult coats is because children&#8217;s coats and clothes are collected all year round for the Kids&#8217; Clothes Closet, which will also be open the night of the event.All winter items can be donated to St. John the Evangelist Parish until Dec. 14 and those not given away on Dec. 16 will be donated to the Christian Missionary Alliance in West Pittston.The Christmas Turkey, Trimming and Winter Coat Giveaway is now in its seventh year. Burke said the idea for the event came when people asked about receiving Christmas dinners.&#8220;CEO was already covering Thanksgiving for people and people would ask if we had any special foods for Christmas,&#8221; Burke said. &#8220;We started in October 2008 and in November CEO was giving turkeys and I realized these people would not get anything for Christmas and decided we would take on a big turkey project. I decided since I&#8217;m a knitter and I teach knitting for the Knitting Ministry, I thought we would also collect hats and scarves, as well.&#8221;Burke admits the event can take a toll her and the volunteers, but the excitement she gets out of it is worth it.&#8220;It&#8217;s very hectic, but it&#8217;s on those situations where you do a project like this there is exhilaration in the air,&#8221; Burke said. &#8220;The people are so happy and so excited to get coats. Most winter coats are not that warm and we&#8217;ve had people come in with their coats duct taped together. &#8220;<style>
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<div class="neCaption">Carl Boos, coordinator for the Greater Pittston Food Pantry, stacks food that will be packaged and prepared for families at the annual Christmas Turkey, Trimming and Winter Coat Giveaway on Dec. 16. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/web1_Giveaway-2.jpg</photo0><caption0>Carl Boos, coordinator for the Greater Pittston Food Pantry, stacks food that will be packaged and prepared for families at the annual Christmas Turkey, Trimming and Winter Coat Giveaway on Dec. 16. </caption0><photoCredit0>Jimmy Fisher | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/web1_Giveaway.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Peggy Burke, coordinator for the Greater Pittston Food Pantry, organizes adult winter coats that will be donated at the annual Christmas Turkey, Trimming and Winter Coat Giveaway on Dec. 16. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/web1_Giveaway.jpg</photo1><caption1>Peggy Burke, coordinator for the Greater Pittston Food Pantry, organizes adult winter coats that will be donated at the annual Christmas Turkey, Trimming and Winter Coat Giveaway on Dec. 16. </caption1><photoCredit1>Jimmy Fisher | Times Leader </photoCredit1></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>Greater Pittston Food Pantry, Knitting Ministry hosts food, coat giveaway for those in need</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta>By Jimmy Fisherjfisher@www.timesleader.com</bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta>Want to help?The Christmas Turkey, Trimming and Winter Coat Giveaway, sponsored by the Greater Pittston Food Pantry and Knitting Ministry will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 16 in the former Seton Catholic High School Auditorium, 37 William St., Pittston. Volunteers are needed to carry groceries from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and can register or volunteer by calling 570-654-9923. Deadline for food and coat donations is Monday, Dec. 14 and may be made from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at the parish center.</factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta>Reach Jimmy Fisher at 570-704-3972 or on Twitter @SD_JimmyFisher</shirttailMeta></div>

Greater Pittston Food Pantry, Knitting Ministry plans annual Christmas Turkey, Trimming and Winter Coat Giveaway for Dec. 16