Free Thanksgiving Dinner in Pennsylvania by cashing in scrap yard bound aluminium cans

A community initiative to gather aluminium cans in the West Newton-Yukon-Collinsburg region can be regarded as the most helpful programme since the conductors will arrange a free Thanksgiving dinner in Jeannette this week. The dinner will be presented in exchange for all the aluminium cans collected and sold.

A non-profit organisation, Operation Pick-Up Cans, would utilise the accumulations after selling the aluminium cans to provide a hearty meal for the community. Operation Pick-Up Cans also acts as a patron in other goodwill projects around the globe.

An ex-employee of Elliott Co. worker who is now president of Operation Pick-Up Cans, Joseph Muscenti, stated: “I look at it as a way of helping people in need.”

Joseph Muscenti more famously known as ‘Jo-Can’ also claims that the organisation has already presented meals to almost 100 people through the previous working years. There is no need for prior bookings or reservations to be eligible for these meals, Muscenti reassured.

This year the free Thanksgiving dinner will be served at The Salvation Army, 1100 Clay Ave. Ext. from 4 to 6 p.m.

Like many other social programmes, the free Thanksgiving dinner had been on hold for the Covid-19 restrictions, said the vice president of the group, John Sweeney Jr.

“In the past, we have always sponsored dinners at The Salvation Army for Thanksgiving and Easter, but over the past few years, we haven’t been able to do it because of covid,” illustrated Sweeney, who had made acquaintance with Muscenti while being appointed at Elliott.

Muscenti inspired John Sweeney Jr. after he saw how the former was helping society with such an honest can collection drive. “I’ve known Joe all my life. I thought it was a great idea,” Sweeney exclaimed.

Associates from the Operations Pick-up Cans board will ensure that the turkeys and other Thanksgiving-related ingredients are properly placed on the table, with some of the cooking being completed at the Salvation Army kitchen. Though Muscenti is sceptical about the cost of the side dishes, he has made it clear that the guests would have a great time.

Jo-Can Muscenti has been gathering aluminium cans from social clubs and individuals for more than a decade now. He takes his collection to a scrap yard, sells them and gets paid by the pound. Only this year, he has successfully recycled 400 pounds of used beverage cans, earning 45 cents per pound. The price has gone down by 20 cents per pound this year, as in 2021, recyclers were paying 65 cents for a pound. Muscenti magnified that aluminium can prices vary, and it can be attributed to market demand.

“I was blessed in life to be able to be able to work, so I thought I would help somebody else,” Muscenti concluded. According to Sweeney and Jo-Can, the non-profit organisation has also created playground projects for the community.