The Joshua Project needs help in order to help others.
In particular, volunteers need heavy lifting.
The Joshua Project will be preparing 450 Thanksgiving baskets for needy families and need help loading turkeys and packing bags of groceries this weekend.
Joshua Project President Pat Costello told volunteers Tuesday night that turkey-loading begins at 10am this Friday at Barber’s Family Farm in Fultonham.
“We just need people to show up at Barber’s,” Mr. Costello said.
Not all the turkeys are stored at Barber’s. More are at Valley Market in Middleburgh, and volunteers will go there after finishing at Barber’s.
Work will switch to Friday evening at Fusion Community Church in Cobleskill, where volunteers will pack 600 bags of groceries.
Set-up starts at 5:30pm, and packing begins at 6.
Drivers are ready to deliver turkeys and baskets this Saturday morning; set-up starts at 8:30am, and loading cars at Fusion begins at 9.
Help is needed there as well.
“Fifty vehicles, 450 baskets,” Mr. Costello said. “Just show up. Somebody will give you something to do, guaranteed.”

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While Thanksgiving is front and center, the Joshua Project is looking towards Christmas, too.
Stephanie Tinker, who coordinates Joshua’s Adopt a Family program, said there’s still time for individuals and businesses to sign up to help a family.
In Adopt a Family, adopters buy gifts and clothing for a needy family. Gift ideas and clothing sizes are available.
So far, Ms. Tinker said, 46 families have been adopted, “but there are lots of families left.”
Adopters must sign up by December 1. They can do so by visiting Joshuaschoharie.org and scrolling down to Adopt a Family.