500-plus families benefit from 12th annual Joe Maddon's 'Thanksmas'

Dec. 14—HAZLETON — For the 12th straight year the Hazleton Integration Project hosted "Joe Maddon's Thanksmas" to help make the holidays a little brighter for some of the most economically under-served families in the Greater Hazleton area.

On Sunday. Dec. 11, more than 500 families braved the snowy weather and lined up in their cars to receive a variety of shelf-stable items like rice and pasta mixed with fresh fruits and vegetables.

Additionally, each family received a whole chicken as the centerpiece of their meal provided by Giant Markets. PetSmart supplied stuffed animals to all the children.

Rob Miller, store manager of Giant in Hazleton, brought along five employees to help with distribution.

"We really enjoy being a part of Thanksmas through donating our time and volunteering to help people in need," Miller said.

Elaine Maddon Curry, first cousin to Joe Maddon, said, "We have been very fortunate in that Giant Markets has been a Thanksmas sponsor for a dozen years. They have been incredibly generous, as have many other of our local businesses. We just could not host an event like this without the support of our community. I'd like to thank everybody involved because the prep is where the hard work is. The project is very labor intensive, but today we can all enjoy handing out the food itself."

Maddon, three-time baseball manager of the year and a World Series champion, was not able to attend the event this year.

"Joe couldn't be with us this year because he is on a book tour right now with stops in Chicago, Savannah, Arizona and Tampa," said Bob Curry, founding president of HIP. "Joe and his wife Jaye are always here in spirit though."

"The Book of Joe: Trying Not to Suck at Baseball and Life," published Oct. 11, is a 368-page memoir describing Maddon's journey in baseball and in life.

Thanksmas is a holiday event that is held every year between Thanksgiving and Christmas. The name is a blend of the two major holidays.

Maddon first conceived of Thanksmas when he managed the Tampa Bay Rays as a dinner for people who were homeless. HIP started holding Thanksmas dinners in 2011 in Hazleton. During the pandemic, HIP switched from a sit-down meal to a drive-thru food distribution.

Sponsors of Joe Maddon's Thanksmas include Giant Supermarkets, Commission on Economic Opportunity, Amazon, PetSmart, AmeriHealth Caritas, Pete Keselicka State Farm and HGSK Law.

Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.