Salvation Army Prepares Thanksgiving-To-Go Meals For Families In Need
By Steve Tawa
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- As families get ready for Thanksgiving, The Salvation Army Greater Philadelphia is making sure that the less fortunate get fed, as well.
The Salvation Army Greater Philadelphia is serving up about 4,000 dinners. But Major Philip Ferreira, the Director of Operations, says they won't be communal meals.
"I think sometimes there's a stigma attached to that type of thing," said Ferreira.
He says this year it's Thanksgiving-to-go, allowing folks to pick up prepared food, and then enjoy it in the comfort of their own homes.
"Without feeling like they were kind of like being mass fed, so that they can have a nice family atmosphere," said Ferreira.
Chef Arlene Olson is the founder of The Salvation Army Soup's On! Project, a culinary arts job training and placement program.
"We're going to have about 2,800 pounds of turkey," said Olson.
Add to that thousands of pounds of mashed potatoes, stuffing, green beans, and thousands of cans of gravy, cranberry sauce and packages of rolls.
Known as "Wiggy," Olson, calls three days of preps at its operations center on Conshocken Avenue, near City Ave "a job of love."
"We're very dedicated to doing the most good, for people that don't have."
Then, they will distribute the food at three Salvation Army sites - the Brown Street headquarters, its Community Center in Kensington - which is the first in the U.S. - and its West Philadelphia center.