Courier surprises readers, gives out $500 in Giant Eagle gift cards for Thanksgiving

THE COURIER’S BILL NEAL SURPRISES COURIER READER FRANK GARDNER OF EAST LIBERTY WITH A $25 GIANT EAGLE GIFT CARD FOR THANKSGIVING! (PHOTOS BY J.L. MARTELLO) SERVING THE COMMUNITY—THE COURIER’S THANKSGIVING GIVEBACK 2024 & Imagine the thousands of people racing into their local grocery store, two days before Thanksgiving, trying to get all the food, plates, cups, etc., that they’ll need for the big Thanksgiving dinner with friends and family. That’s how it felt inside the Shadyside Market District Giant Eagle on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024, but there was one twist. The New Pittsburgh Courier, which is sold at the Shadyside location, decided to surprise some of its readers shopping in the store with a free $25 Giant Eagle gift card, just as a “thank you” for “being you.” And to help out with some of the cost of the Thanksgiving grocery bill. The fun began around 3:30 p.m., as Courier celebrity personalities Merecedes J. Williams (Courier movie critic) and Bill Neal (Courier sports columnist) walked around the store and surprised people with the gift card and a free Courier print edition. Williams presented the first gift card to Esther Taylor of the Hill District, who told the Courier “it feels...