It takes an army of volunteers to put together the Tamaqua Salvation Army's annual Thanksgiving Day meal, and every year, they do it.

From the people who pick up supplies to the people who wash that last spoon, the volunteer hours are immeasurable and impressive. Maj. Sharon Whispell estimated more than 100 people were served "sit-down" meals, while another 176 meals were delivered to Coaldale, McAdoo, Hometown, Nesquehoning, Jim Thorpe, Lansford and Tamaqua."There's definitely a need for this," Whispell said as volunteers loaded stacks of filled meal containers into bags for the delivery vehicles. "There are many people here and in the surrounding communities who depend on us."Esther Stofocik of Tamaqua, who's been with the Salvation Army since 1985, said she's glad to be part of the annual tradition. Stofocik prepares the list of names for meals to be delivered, and organized that list into routes for the drivers."My husband died in April 1985 and I came here in November 1985," Stofocik said. "I'm 85 now, and still glad to help every minute I can."