Linda Young is director of the Ecumenical Food Pantry. She says the meals, which are packed in big cardboard boxes, are distributed in theLake Placidcommunity and beyond.

“We do about 300 Thanksgiving baskets, and it’s got turkey, you know, all the bits – everything is in it,” she said. “And that’s to go for anybody that needs a turkey basket – anybody that needs it. Someone that might be falling through the cracks, that’s going through a problem.”

As Young speaks, volunteers are stuffing items into boxes and handing them to people lined up to take them home to their families. Others carry boxes up a flight of stairs, where trucks and vans are waiting to ship them out into the community.

Young says the turkeys and other food are purchased by the food pantry or donated. In some cases, local businesses chipped in with donations.

Outside, Krista Berger, who works forEssexCounty’s Women Infant and Children program, praises the hard work that Young has been doing since she took over as director of the food pantry back in the 1980s.

“She (Young) doesn’t care how many people – she’s always just said, ‘If they need it, then (they) can have it and deliver it.’ She’s never put a limit on it. She’s just very, very generous,” Young said.

More than 50 volunteers are here today, including some public figures. Lake Placid Mayor Craig Randall and Adirondack Park Agency Executive Director Terry Martino are carrying boxes up the stairs, and Cliff Donaldson, regional representative for Gov. Andrew Cuomo, is moving at top speed to pack the meals.

Wiping the sweat from his brow, Donaldson says Cuomo is promoting this kind of community service all aroundNew Yorkstate.

“So this is his priority: That neighbor helps neighbor,” Donaldson said. “It’s the same as what happened inKeene, where neighbor helped neighbor digging out and getting everything back together. InNew York City, it’s even more so. HurricaneSandydid tremendous damage, and the people down there are helping their neighbors. They’re putting on Thanksgiving meals. Truckloads of food and supplies are coming in. Volunteerism is healthy under the Cuomo administration and that’s a good thing.”

Young says the food pantry accepts donations year-round.

For more information about the Lake Placid Ecumenical Food Pantry, call Linda Young at 518-523-9620.