Pocono News Section

Free Meal: Eat In, Take Out, Delivery

Free Meal: Eat In, Take Out, Delivery - Wednesday, November 25, 2009 at 5:00PM EST

Reported by: Laurie Monteforte
Wednesday, Nov 25, 2009 @ 05:00pm EST
MOUNT POCONO, MONROE COUNTY - If you have no where to go for Thanksgiving dinner or you just can't afford a meal, a local business wants to help out. The Casino Theater in Mount Pocono is offering free meals Thursday.

Chef Cheri Poplawski has been preparing for two weeks. She smiled, "It doesn't feel like work. It feels like - it's just an overall wonderful feeling to be able to help other people out."

She's cooking for at least 200 people expected to attend the free meal. She said, "We need to take care of each other. Not just ourselves. But each other."

This is the first time the theater is hosting a Thanksgiving meal. Co Owner Karen Struckle said her family organized it to thank the community for 35 years of business. She explained, "The community has been very good to us and they've really supported us over that time."

The meal will be a traditional turkey dinner with all the trimmings. It also includes drinks and dessert. It's a sit down dinner with volunteer waiters and waitresses. Struckle said, "I have more volunteers than I even could possibly use."

If you're shut in or don't have a car or for any reason cant make it to the sit down dinner, Casino employees are ready to deliver a meal to your house.

Chef Poplawski said, There's a lot of people, especially our seniors who can't get out."

The chef and staff are giving up some of their Thanksgiving to make the day a little brighter for their community. Poplawski said, "I have an amazing wonderful family and I work for an amazing wonderful family and when you're blessed, you should share your blessings."

The theater has three seating times, 11, 1, and 3. To make reservations call 570-977-0098.

US Food Service, Hershey Ice Cream and Pepsi contributed food and drinks for the dinner.