By Glenn Rolfe

SELBYVILLE — The traditional ham dinner for Easter may give way to chicken for some local families this year.

In its ongoing holiday outreach, Mountaire Farms is once again partnering with more than 50 churches and nonprofits in the region to provide complete meals for families in need.

On Wednesday, a volunteer effort exceeding 100 individuals participated in the Easter for Thousands packing day event at Mountaire’s Selbyville facility.

Judy and Mike Hall of Millsboro were among the helping hands on hand.

“We just like to give back,” said Ms. Hall. “Many years ago, I had a brain aneurysm, and I told God, ‘Listen, if I get through this, we are going to serve however we can.’ And that’s what we do.”

Mr. Hall added, “I have been a Rotarian now for probably 35 years. My life has revolved around service. I was a social services executive and (am involved in) church, mission and outreach kinds of things. Serving in this kind of an event is something where we know that we can concretely make a difference in somebody’s life. That is why we do this.

“And Mountaire, they do a terrific job as a corporate entity in this community. We want to be here to support them and support the community, which is what Judy and I love to do.”

Volunteers of all ages participated, from students to retirees. Veterans’ groups also assisted, including members of Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 1105 in Sussex County.

Combined, they packed 3,000 meal boxes — enough to feed 12,000 people.

With a slightly different menu than Mountaire’s Thanksgiving for Thousands, each Easter box was stuffed with a roaster chicken, canned corn, peas and carrots, mashed potatoes, gravy, applesauce and brownies.

The younger generation of helpers included a small platoon of Leo Club members from Indian River High School, some of whom got a previous taste of giving back at Mountaire’s last Thanksgiving for Thousands.

“We did this before when it was Thanksgiving time. A good number of us decided to come back because we enjoy helping the community, and it was a fun event for all of us,” said junior Kimberly Inthilath, the club’s vice president. “We are required to get volunteer hours. We get our credit. This could also count toward National Honor Society, which most of us are in, as well.”

Another return volunteer, who has participated in the company’s Thanksgiving and Christmas events, was Ed Silver, a semiretired educator, formerly of Maryland and Pennsylvania.

“To me, it’s just a real chance to give back. I think it’s a wonderful thing that they are doing. I have some time, and it’s a great way to use that time. It’s really great to see the community step forward, people giving their time to do this. And Mountaire, hats off to them, for doing this,” he said. “I am a former educator working part time as a substitute teacher now. So it is really good to see the kids here.”

Organizations that registered for the event also picked up their boxes for distribution to needy families Wednesday.

Walter and Corine Smith gathered approximately half the 48 boxes for Union Wesley United Methodist Church in Clarksville.

“It means a lot,” Mr. Smith said. “Things are tight right now for a lot of people.”

Mountaire Farms president Phillip Plylar agreed.

“This is our signature event, and we’re thrilled to be able to keep expanding to more people and more communities every year,” he said. “Our employees look forward to being able to give back, and work right alongside veterans, students and so many other great leaders in our community that come out to volunteer every year.”

Thirty-year Mountaire employee Tyrone Bullock has been part of all the holiday events since they began more than two-and-a-half decades ago.

“From day one. The first 1,000 boxes … me and Roger Marino,” he said, referring to the now-retired employee who launched the program.

Companywide, encompassing four states, Mountaire employees and volunteers packed about 10,000 boxes for Easter this week, enough to feed approximately 40,000 people.

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