NEWBURYPORT — Donations are pouring into The Salvation Army this week, after the organization announced it was facing a Thanksgiving meal shortage this year.
After Major Kathy Purvis shared her fears with The Daily News on Wednesday that the organization was worried it wouldn't have enough food to distribute for Thanksgiving meals, the community has stepped up in full force.
"The outpouring has been absolutely wonderful," she said yesterday. "People are coming in left and right. Complete dinners are being dropped off. Thank you to the city of Newburyport."
The Salvation Army now has enough turkeys, she said, but is still in need of the side dishes. They are still short on gravy, apple cider and other juices, she said.
Other side dishes include: stuffing mix, vegetables, any kind of potatoes, dinner rolls, pie crust and filling.
Last year, 75 local families signed up for a Thanksgiving meal package. This year, 65 families are signed up, and several individuals are also expected to ask for Thanksgiving meals.
But the Thanksgiving figures don't tell the whole story of local food needs. Throughout the year, The Salvation Army has seen the number of people asking for food through its pantry more than double in the past year. That has depleted the amount of food in the Salvation Army's food pantry, which led Purvis to fear that there wouldn't be enough food for the Thanksgiving meals.
Purvis said The Salvation Army is running out of storage for the Thanksgiving food and asked residents, if possible, to drop donations off on Tuesday morning before noon. Workers will arrive around 8:30 a.m., she said.
The Salvation Army also accepts monetary donations. All donations made to the Newburyport Salvation Army are given to needy people in greater Newburyport.
The meals will be distributed Tuesday afternoon at The Salvation Army's building at 40 Water St.
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