Dwight Rohrbaugh calls it the "big Thanksgiving operation."

The York Rescue Mission prepares holiday food boxes and distributes them to families in need, and serves a free meal to the community on Thanksgiving Day.

"I'’ve been here 28 years and I'’ve seen York County help more and more each year," said Rohrbaugh, the mission’s men’'s ministry director. "York County does a good job at taking care of needy people. York County people want to see the homeless taken care of."

The rescue mission at 367-371 W. Market St. in York City will begin its annual Thanksgiving food drive on Sunday. The drive concludes on Saturday, Dec. 15.

Rohrbaugh said that nonperishable food items can be dropped off at Turkey Hill Minit Markets, York County M&T Bank branches and the York Newspaper Co. at 1891 Loucks Road in West Manchester Township.

Food also can be dropped off at the rescue mission at 367 W. Market St. or at its main food collection area in back of the mission'’s facility at 370 W. Clarke Ave., Rohrbaugh said.

The mission's donation wish list includes canned goods, rice, instant Jell-O, pudding and mashed potatoes, stuffing mixes and condensed soup.

Frozen turkey donations must be dropped off at the rescue mission to ensure proper refrigeration.

Food donations will be used to distribute gift boxes to people who are poor and disadvantaged. Gift boxes will be distributed Tuesday, Nov. 20, at the mission's Lighthouse Youth Center in downtown York.

To receive the gift boxes, families and individuals will have to get referrals from local human services, agencies and churches, Rohrbaugh said.

The mission expects to distribute between 1,700 and 1,800 boxes of food, he said. Last year, the rescue mission distributed 1,652 boxes, with families and individuals receiving one box each, according to Rohrbaugh. ¶

The York Rescue Mission also is collecting donations of $2.36 to cover per-plate costs for its Thanksgiving Day Worship and Banquet beginning at 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 22.

About 175 people are expected to attend the event, Rohrbaugh said.

Reach Eyana Adah McMillan at emcmillan@yorkdispatch.com.

How to Help

For information about the York Rescue Thanksgiving food drive and events, call the mission at 848-4831.

To sponsor Thanksgiving Day meals at $2.36 per plate, mail contributions to the York Rescue Mission, 371 W. Market St., York 17403. Please make the check out to the mission and write "Thanksgiving Day meal" in the memo line.