National Guard Battalion Provides Thanksgiving Dinner To Less Fortunate For 25th Year
MT. PLEASANT (KDKA) -- While many people are sitting down to a nice meal on Thanksgiving with family and friends, there are a lot of people who don't have that same opportunity.
That's where the Pennsylvania National Guard comes in.
The PA Army National Guard 1st Battalion, 110th Infantry motto is "make it happen." In Mt. Pleasant Township on this Thanksgiving, members of the unit and dozens of volunteers are doing just that.
"We have a game plan," Maj. Timothy Moreau, executive officer with the 1st Btn. 110th Infantry, said. "We already know what we're doing."
For a quarter century, the unit spent each Thanksgiving preparing meals for the less fortunate and shut-ins in the area, and what started with two turkeys 25 years ago has grown.
"Approximately 28 turkeys, over 200 lbs. of potatoes, I can't tell you the number of gallons of milk," Moreau said.
Much of it was donated by Sam's Club in Ross Township. Each meal is boxed, designated and delivered with military planning and precision.
"All the vehicles are fueled. Everybody has a strip map," Moreau said. "They know where they're going, they know where each stop is."
Obviously, the major is in charge of deliveries, but it becomes apparent who's the commander back in the kitchen: the woman they call Aunt Sue.
Susan Supura has been volunteering for 16 years.
"I've been here since 7:15 this morning," she said. "I was here last night until about 10:30."
Supura's focus: make good food for the folks on the other end of all this.
"Some senior citizen is eating. There's a whole lot of them out there who don't eat. They don't eat," she said. "Before my husband passed away, this is what we did, and this is the way it was ... This is my Thanksgiving."
In all, some 300 meals head out the door, and like every year, it's mission accomplished.
"[For] 25 years, this is happening, and it's not gonna stop," Moreau said.
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