SELBYVILLE, Del.-Â Here comes Peter Cottontail and three thousand holiday meals for families who want to enjoy Easter.
Volunteers from various organizations and Mountaire Farms staff members formed an assembly line to fill and pack boxes into vehicles. Organizations on Delmarva will then pass them out to families.
The people wore masks and remained socially distant when possible. Mountaire President Phillip Plylar says the pandemic has been a difficult time for hungry families.
"COVID's impacted families across the shore," Plylar said. "People are in need. This event has been a big part of what we do as a company over the years been its been needed this year more than others.'
While packing the boxes, a birthday celebration was held as well. Roger Marino turns 86 today and he started the Thanksgiving For Thousands Program 27 years ago. He was able to spend part of the day at the warehouse with some of his friends and Mountaire family.
Community Relations Manager Zach Evans has taken the lead role for the holiday food program and knows it takes a lot to live up to Roger's standards.
"Roger did an amazing job of kind of setting the foundation and the expectation of what the community role was here at Mountaire," Evans said. "And so, it's an intimidating job to be asked to come in and fill someone like that's shoes and you know I just strive every day to try to make him proud."
The need for food continues to grow, but the spirit of the holidays grows greater thanks to the efforts of companies like Mountaire Farms.
Mountaire does not get a break even though Thanksgiving is months away. The company will start preparing roaster chickens immediately for the turkey day distribution.
