Helping Harvest Fresh Food Bank has announced the preparation and distribution of 675 heat-and-eat meals for seniors in Berks and Schuylkill counties this Thanksgiving, made possible with the generous support of Kelly Toyota of Hamburg.
Chef Amanda Richards, Director of Culinary Operations for the new Helping Harvest Community Kitchen set to open in early 2025, spearheaded this initiative to give back to the community during the holiday season. Partnering with Redner’s Central Kitchen, she showcased the potential of the upcoming Community Kitchen by creating these special holiday meals.
“I wanted to do something meaningful for the community, even though our new kitchen isn’t open yet,” said Chef Amanda Richards. “These holiday meals highlight the exciting opportunities our Community Kitchen will bring to our neighbors when it launches.”
Kelly Toyota enthusiastically supported the effort with a $7,500 sponsorship gift and six dedicated volunteers who assisted in the preparation and packaging of the meals.
“At Kelly Toyota, we are honored to sponsor turkey meals for seniors in our community, ensuring they can enjoy a warm meal this holiday season,” said John Bobo, General Sales Manager. “I could not be prouder of our staff for volunteering their time to help make this possible. Supporting Helping Harvest’s vital work reflects our deep commitment to giving back to the community that has supported us for so many years. Together, we’re making a difference and spreading joy where it’s needed most.”
The meals, featuring turkey with gravy, mashed potatoes, and corn, were packaged and labeled with the help of Kelly Toyota’s volunteers. These heat-and-eat meals reflect the kind of dishes that Helping Harvest’s new Community Kitchen will produce, allowing the organization to utilize bulk food donations more effectively.
“When our Community Kitchen opens, we’ll be able to transform bulk food donations into meals like these, helping seniors and others in need across our community,” said Jay Worrall, President of Helping Harvest. “We’re incredibly thankful to Kelly Toyota and Chef Tim at Redner’s Central Kitchen for making this holiday effort possible. It’s a wonderful way to launch this new chapter for Helping Harvest.”
The meals will be distributed to various Agency Partners, including senior high-rise apartment buildings, to ensure they reached seniors in need.
Helping Harvest Fresh Food Bank is the leading provider of food assistance in Berks and Schuylkill Counties, delivering over $20 million in food to 119,000 residents last year through more than 350 distribution locations. As a member of Feeding America, the nation’s largest hunger-relief organization, Helping Harvest continues to fight food insecurity and support local communities.
