Harvest of Hope: Thanksgiving Help for 100 Lehigh Valley Families

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Harvest of Hope is working toward a $10,000 goal: provide 100 Lehigh Valley families with $100 grocery gift cards for Thanksgiving 2026. Families can apply for themselves, and community members can nominate someone who could use a little extra support.

Samantha Iannelli of The Eric T. Neith Team joins George Wacker on the Lehigh Valley with Love Podcast to explain how the effort started, why the team wants to reach more families, and how people can help.

From 10 families to a goal of 100

Samantha recalls an early Thanksgiving effort that came together quickly during the team’s first year. They distributed about 10 gift cards worth $100 each, helping local families with roughly $1,000 in support.

This year’s Harvest of Hope campaign sets a larger goal: 100 families receiving $100 each. Samantha describes seeing people working hard and still struggling to cover what they need, including through her earlier work in healthcare.

She also remembers Thanksgivings when she could enjoy the food and time with family without worrying about the cost. Helping more households have that breathing room is part of what drives the campaign.

How to apply or nominate someone for Harvest of Hope

You can nominate your own household or someone you know. Samantha encourages people to share the opportunity with neighbors, friends, and families who might hesitate to ask for help themselves.

The current nomination form lists a November 15, 2026 deadline. The Harvest of Hope committee will review nominations and contact selected recipients afterward. Distribution is planned for the week following November 15, with pickup instructions sent directly to selected recipients.

Submitting a nomination does not guarantee selection. The form also states that agents and individuals directly affiliated with The Eric T. Neith Team | eXp Realty may not submit nominations or be nominated as recipients.

Open the Harvest of Hope nomination form

Donate or help spread the word

Donations can be made through the Harvest of Hope Givebutter page. Samantha also welcomes businesses interested in contributing or finding another way to support the effort.

Sharing the campaign helps it reach potential donors and the people it is meant to serve. If someone you know could use support this Thanksgiving, send them the application information or nominate them.

Lehigh Valley life and a Thanksgiving food story

The episode also covers Samantha’s path from personal training, healthcare, and other businesses into real estate, along with what she and George enjoy about living in the Lehigh Valley: local restaurants, hot dog spots, and drive-in theaters.

And her Thanksgiving food pick? Oven-roasted Brussels sprouts. That leads to a story about rolling one in sprinkles and offering it to her daughter as a doughnut-hole lookalike. It did not go over well.

Harvest of Hope links

• Goal: $10,000 to provide 100 local families with $100 Thanksgiving grocery gift cards
• Campaign and donations: https://givebutter.com/harvest-of-hope-xnpnce
• Applications and nominations: Harvest of Hope nomination form
• Deadline currently listed on the nomination form: November 15, 2026
• Samantha on Instagram: @samanthaiannellirealtor
• The Eric T. Neith Team on Instagram: @erict.neithteam_exp.realty

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