Donations are being accepted for the seventh annual Give a Gobbler event in Lehighton.

The Feed Our Veterans event will take place from 8 a.m. to noon Nov. 18 at Giant Food Store, Carbon Plaza Mall, 1241 Blakeslee Blvd. Drive E in Lehighton.

Presented by Layne “The Doc” Roberts, and the Pennsylvania State Police, the event aims to support the Valor Holiday Meal Program.

“Our veterans are our true heroes,” Roberts said. “To be able to give back to them is very humbling.”

Roberts, who was owner of Colossal Radio until he retired in May and moved into The Doc & Friends Endless Party Podcast, said the event has proved to be the largest one-day drive for veterans and the Valor Clinic.

“In my 45 years of doing radio, I’ve never seen a fundraiser or community support ever like this,” he said. “When you see the other side and deliver the meals, it’s a very humbling feeling.”

Roberts said donations accepted include non-perishables for their holiday meals, turkeys and monetary donations.

He said nonperishable food items may be dropped off at Lehighton, Palmerton, Jim Thorpe and Mahoning Township police departments, as well as at Spoonman Farms (Team Spoonman).

In advance of the event, Roberts noted the Lehighton Police Department, Palmerton Police Department, Jim Thorpe Police Department and Mahoning Township Police Department are in a friendly competition to see which department can collect the most nonperishable food items for the event.

At last year’s event, Roberts said just over $12,000 was donated, along with a large amount of food, noting that three box trucks and a trailer were filled.

He added that Larken Associates, which owns the Carbon Plaza Mall, donated $500 and more than 200 turkeys; Nev & Nise Produce Greenhouse LLC of Lehighton donated 800 pounds of fresh potatoes along with squash; and Jason Kistler of Team Spoonman donated a $5,000 check, 2,100 pounds of dry goods and two pallets of turkeys.

For the second straight year, the Lehighton Borough Police Department and Chief Troy Abelovsky claimed the homemade traveling trophy for the largest amount collected.

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.

Give a Gobbler was started in 2020 by Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Anthony Petroski, community services officer for Troop N, and Roberts.

For more information on this year’s event, follow Roberts on his Facebook page.