The venue may have changed, but the heartfelt mission behind the event has not.

For the first time, the annual Operation Give a Gobbler Turkeys For Our Veterans will not be staged in Palmerton.

Presented by Colossal Radio, VALOR Clinic Foundation, and the Pennsylvania State Police, this year’s event will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday at Giant Food Store in Lehighton.

Layne “Doc” Roberts, owner of Colossal Radio, said that the seeds for the change of scenery were planted several months ago.

“My fiance, Kate actually came up with the idea to further promote this drive,” Roberts said. “She said, ‘I wonder if Giant would be interested in getting on board with this community event.’”

Roberts said they reached out to a mutual friend of theirs, Michelle Rex, general manager of Giant at the Carbon Plaza Mall, and passed along the idea to her.

“She loved it, and she furthered it up the flagpole,” he said. “That is where the idea came from; for the first time this was not my idea, but when we came up with this and we figured with the visibility there at Giant would do better by our veterans and the Valor Clinic.”

Roberts said the switch has already paid dividends.

“It’s already proved worthy of itself,” he said. “We can’t thank Giant enough as they, along with their staff, already donated 150 turkeys.”

That has Roberts thinking this year’s event could be the most successful in its four-year history.

“I would hope that we can even collect more than we have in the past three years,” he said. “I totally understand times aren’t easy and Colossal Radio being the vehicle for this event - that’s all we are is the vehicle for this event - one canned good makes all the difference, one box of stuffing.”

Roberts added that clothing, coats, boots, and hoodies will also be accepted.

“Hopefully, we can do better by our veterans that so many have done by us,” he said.

Participation in the event is:

• Through the Hofford Mill. Cash and nonperishable donations may be made to the donation box at The Gorge host stand leading up to the donation drive. Cash donated to the Hofford Mill will be used to purchase turkeys at wholesale cost.

• Through the live donation drive (button on Colossal Radio website, Give a Gobbler tab). Cash and nonperishable donations may be given directly to volunteers of the Valor Clinic.

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

Last year’s event netted $6,000 between cash and check donations, along with 125 turkeys for veterans.

In advance of the event, the Palmerton, Lehighton and Jim Thorpe police departments have been in a friendly competition to see which department can collect the most nonperishable food items for the event.

In Palmerton, donations may be dropped off in the lobby of the police department or borough hall between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Donations should be dropped off no later than Nov. 14.

In Lehighton, donations may be dropped off in the donation box located in the lobby of the police department between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Frozen turkeys can be dropped off the morning of the event between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m.

In Jim Thorpe, nonperishable food items may be dropped off in the foyer of the Jim Thorpe Borough Office Building no later than Nov. 14.

Give a Gobbler was started in 2020 by Pennsylvania State Police Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Anthony Petroski, Community Services Officer for Troop N, and Roberts.