Springfield based WGGB News 40, in cooperation with the Salvation Army, is running a food drive. News 40 has agreed to provide turkeys, rolls and cider for over 500 needy families. They are asking for support in the form of food donations from the public that can be dropped off in the parking lot of the WGGB studios at the “Thanksgiving for All” trailer. The drive begins Monday Oct 28 and ends Friday Nov 22.

News 40 has been running this program for the last eight years, providing food to needy families according to a list of names compiled by the Salvation Army. The drive has been so successful in the past that News 40 has received more then enough food to feed the 500 families on the list. Derek Jarvis of WGGB News 40 explained.

“In the past years we have received donations far in excess, and we have been able to donate this to food pantries in the area, to distribute to other needy people in their areas.” According to Lorraine Bernier of the Springfield Salvation Army, “The program has been extremely successful, in the past we have served 5 times the amount of people we had set out to feed.”

The success of “Thanksgiving for all” in the past has inspired large amounts of community participation. “As the program has grown…several companies and schools in the area including Springfield College have had their own “Thanksgiving for All” drives,” said Jarvis. “They brought pick-up trucks loaded with food down, it’s more than just viewers now it’s a real community project.” Bernier does the screening to compile the list of needy individuals for the Salvation Army, whom the meals will be distributed to and depends on News 40 to get the word out and gather the actual donations.

“We couldn’t do the drive without them they do the advertising, and they do all the bagging. News 40’s own staff people are down in the trailer working.”

WGGB News 40 has asked the public for help in the form of donations of canned vegetables, non-perishable desserts, cranberry sauce, and instant potatoes (please, no fresh potatoes). Donations are being accepted at 1300 Liberty Street, in Springfield, in the WGGB parking lot, any time between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

- Ashley Dolan