Millerton pantry gives turkeys to those in need

MILLERTON — Not even the COVID-19 pandemic could stop the local community from embracing the giving season as volunteers gathered at the First Presbyterian Church of Millerton on Thursday, Nov. 19, and Friday, Nov. 20, to assemble Thanksgiving baskets for residents in need. 

Working in collaboration with the North East Community Center (NECC), volunteers from the church’s food pantry donned their face masks and kept a safe distance from one another as they put together boxes and bags filled with dried, canned, non-perishable and fresh goods. 

Fifty turkeys and some chickens arrived on Friday, Nov. 20, courtesy of the Sunday in the Country Food Drive, while the NECC donated vegetables and the rest of the food came from donations from the food pantry and a food drive it held in May. 

As a brand new addition to the program, this year’s Thanksgiving baskets featured pie kits with the NECC Teen Team’s “Best Pumpkin Pie” recipe.

While the volunteers who were there on Thursday packing baskets said they hadn’t yet figured out their Thanksgiving plans for this year, they shared how thankful they are that their families are healthy.

“I’m thankful for so many things,” said volunteer Helen Brandt. “I’m thankful my family’s all well… I’m grateful that they’re coming up with a vaccine.”

“I’m thankful we’ve made it this far and we’re all well,” agreed fellow volunteer Carol Dean. 

“I’m thankful, like Carol is, that everyone in my family is healthy and that we can help other people,” volunteer Monika Barlow said.

— Kaitlin Lyle