Students at Lehighton Elementary Center did their part to raise donations for the sixth annual Operation Give a Gobbler Turkey For Our Veterans event to be held Wednesday at Giant Food Store in Lehighton.

Turkeys will be donated to the Valor Clinic Foundation, 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.

Fifth-grader Phoenix Derr said, “We want to help the homeless so they can actually have stuff to eat.”

Classmate Monroe Tyahla added that “people need this” and added “this can help them.”

Lehighton Borough Police Chief Troy Abelovsky said the Lehighton Borough Police Department have again partnered with local businesses and locations to help gather nonperishable food items to feed our veterans.

“It’s important in the community for veterans,” Abelovsky said. “It’s for families to ensure they have a good holiday meal.”

Abelovsky noted that last year, the Lehighton Borough Police Department collected over 5,000 non-perishables, 24 frozen turkeys $3,725 in monetary donations.

Tricia Foster, Lehighton Area School District principal of academic intervention and achievement, said it signifies the important of taking care of each other.

“We’re thankful to the men and women for serving,” Foster said. “It’s to spread the joy, especially during the holiday season.”

Abelovsky posted Monday afternoon on the Lehighton Borough Police Department’s Facebook page that the department has begun collecting all donations for Operation Give a Gobbler from all the donation boxes placed around the borough.

“Our residents have done an amazing job again this year,” he posted. “Our volunteers have begun the process of sorting and organizing the donations collected.”

Abelovsky noted it’s not too late to make a contribution toward this great cause, and urged anyone who has nonperishable food donations or monetary donations (which are tax deductible), to drop them off at the police station before the close of business today.

In addition to the Lehighton Borough Police Department, other collection locations include the Lehighton Municipal Building, American Legion Post 314, Lehighton Area Memorial Library, and Nonna’s Ice Cream.

Give a Gobbler was started in 2020 by Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Anthony Petroski, Community Services Officer for Troop N, and Layne “Doc” Roberts, owner of Colossal Radio.

For more information, visit colossalradio.rocks.