Many veterans and their families will have holiday meals this Thanksgiving.

That’s thanks to the overwhelming success of the third annual Operation Give a Gobbler Turkeys For Our Veterans event held Wednesday at Colossal Radio in Palmerton.

The event raised more than $6,000 between cash and check donations. People donated over 125 turkeys, and an 18-foot box truck was filled to capacity with non-perishables, according to Layne “Doc” Roberts, owner of Colossal Radio.

“I’m humbled by the support of our local businesses and our local communities for embracing this event as a way to give back to our veterans,” Roberts said. “I’m extremely proud of my team at Colossal Radio, and that this station can help in a small way to make a positive impact on our area. It’s what this station was built on, doing our part to support each other.”

Presented by Valor, Colossal Radio, and the Pennsylvania State Police, the event had its highest support ever, said state police Trooper Anthony Petroski, Community Services Officer for Troop N.

“We’ve done extremely well,” Petroski said. “The community outpouring of support of monetary and food donations; it’s been humbling.”

Petroski said the Lehighton Police Department partnered with Colossal Radio and challenged the Jim Thorpe Police Department and Palmerton Police Department to see which of the departments would have the most nonperishable food items donated.

“They did an absolutely great job collecting for this initiative,” he said. “The veterans won.”

Petroski said the Jim Thorpe Police Department brought a trailer filled with various canned and nonperishable goods.

Additionally, My Store in Palmerton donated four cases of Carhart jackets,

Chris Everett of Albrightsville pulled over across the street from the Valor trailer and walked over to the group armed with three turkeys in tow.

“I have a family that’s veterans,” Everett said. “It’s for a good cause.”

Give a Gobbler was started in 2020 by Petroski and Roberts.

Valor Clinic foundation is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization committed to improving the lives of veterans. They strive to improve access to quality of health care and shelter of veterans.