MOUNT PLEASANT MILLS — Each year, more than 47 million people around the country face hunger, including 1 of 5 children.

Making meals for the needy is one simple way that Wendy Apple and her family and friends can do something good for a stranger and for themselves.

For the past four years, Wendy and her family have offered free Thanksgiving meals to the less fortunate in Juniata and Snyder counties as well as neighboring Northumberland and Union counties. The first year started out with 50 meals and it has grown immensely to more than 500 meals this year.

“It’s been a great way to teach the kids the importance of community,” said Wendy, who lives in Mount Pleasant Mills and has raised four sons with husband, Scott.

“The need here was a lot worse than we thought it was,” Wendy added. “Our plan was to do it for Nate one year and that was it. But you receive heartfelt messages, they tug on your heartstrings and you do it again.”

In 2021, Wendy’s youngest son, Nathan, came up with the idea of giving away free Thanksgiving meals for his senior project at Midd-West High School. He asked his mom for help in giving away 50 meals.

There was such a positive response that the family decided to continue the tradition the following Thanksgiving. The meal giveaway has grown ever since. Today, hundreds of meals are cooked at Richfield Life Ministries Church and delivered to the needy during the Thanksgiving holiday.

The meals include turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, corn, dinner roll and applesauce. All of the food is donated.

While cooking is a labor of love, Wendy admits the past four years have been a bit overwhelming at times.

“I’ve raised four boys, so I know how to cook,” Wendy said. “But I can say without the communities’ help, this would not happen.”

Due to the volume of meals, Wendy said preparations have already started with donations of 32 turkeys and all the trimmings. Volunteers are still needed to deliver the meals on Wednesday, Nov. 27.

“We got calls from places as far as Scranton, but that’s too far,” said Wendy of receiving Thanksgiving meal requests.

This year, the Apple family and volunteers plan to cook at least 500 Thanksgiving meals for those in need. She and Scott are especially excited that 9-year-old granddaughter, Katness Apple; sons, Nathan, Shane and wife Samatha, and Austin and wife Briana; and 82-year-old father-in-law, David Apple, are participating in the meal preparation and delivery for this year’s event.

“It’s an expensive thing for one or two people to do,” Wendy said of funding 500 meals. “When you have so many people coming together and joining, this is what happens.

“I get one turkey here or a box of something there,” Wendy added. “I had a lady drop off 350 applesauce containers the other day, I wasn’t expecting. It takes everybody; it’s definitely not me doing it on my own.”

Anyone interested in volunteering to deliver meals can contact Wendy through Facebook or call (570) 554-5359. Meal requests for Thanksgiving are being accepted through Saturday.

“I have all donations I need to cover Thanksgiving,” added Wendy, who asked that donations be dropped off at her home at 565 Quarry Road, Mount Pleasant Mills, and not the Richfield Life Ministries Church.

Last year, they made 438 meals for Christmas and held a toy and clothing drive that packed four pickup trucks. For Easter, another 500-plus meals were made, along with 400 baskets. All of the items were donated.

Other helping hands

Two weeks ago, Richfield resident Robert Lynch and his son, Devan, returned from Asheville, N.C., where they delivered donations and helped with tree removal in the storm-ravaged area for two weeks. Now, the two – with wife and mother Diane – are preparing to pitch in again to assist their own community.

The Lynch family will be helping the Apples prepare Thanksgiving meals, along with James and Kelly Hornberger, of Mount Pleasant Mills.

“I laid in bed and couldn’t sleep for several days. I was heartbroken over what I saw,” Robert said of the devastation caused by Tropical Storm Helene in North Carolina. “The Lord gave me a clear vision of what we needed to do.”

So, Robert put his hauling business on hold and headed south with his son.

“When I was growing up we didn’t have much and I know what that’s like,” Robert added. “If you’re hungry or cold, don’t give up. If people would help each other out, the world would be a better place.”

Once the Thanksgiving holiday is over, Wendy will turn her attention to preparing meals for Christmas. She is seeking donations of:

40 hams

45 boxes of instant mashed potatoes

8 gallons of ham gravy

22 gallons of corn

500 fruit cups

dinner rolls and butter packets

takeout containers

plastic cutlery

Wendy said some donations are more difficult to obtain this season because many businesses she has counted on in the past have already assisted hurricane victims in North Carolina and Florida.