Whitehall-Coplay Hunger Initiative president

We had beautiful weather for our monthly pantry food distribution March 11. Thank you again to all our volunteers and our guests who made the day very enjoyable and successful.

Our guests increased by 20 percent from February. We served 113 households - 82 in Whitehall Township and 31 in Coplay Borough. This was up from 91 households in February. We served 129 children, 158 adults and 68 seniors for a total of 355 people.

We know there are many more food-insecure Whitehall and Coplay residents who do not have transportation or are working during our distribution times. If you are one of the residents, please have a friend, family member or neighbor bring you. Arrangements can be made for them to pick the food up for you. Call me for more information.

The next distributions are 11 a.m.-1 p.m. or 5:30-7 p.m. April 8. Please mark this on your calendar. Our pantry is located at 3024 S. Ruch St., Whitehall. It is a drive-in, pickup-only event. Please expect long lines.

Distributions will end promptly 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. You are served if you are in line by the end times.

A valid Pennsylvania driver’s license or a utility bill is required to verify residency in Whitehall or Coplay. Income limits apply per household size. Masks must be worn, and no smoking is permitted.

We are so blessed to receive dry, dairy and frozen food from Second Harvest Food Bank and monetary and dry food donations from the public. We cannot accept dairy and frozen food from the public due to time and temperature food safety concerns.

To give you an idea what our guests receive, when available, we try to give components to make nutritious meals. Our guests receive several bags of food including frozen ground beef, ground turkey, deli meats, butter, cheese, rice, pasta, elbow macaroni, chili, beef stew, salmon, tuna, chicken, crushed tomato/spaghetti sauce, pork and beans, soup, vegetables, applesauce, fruit, pancake mix, cereal, peanut butter and jelly, protein bars, fruit and nut mix, carrots, onions, cabbage, lettuce, apples and pears.

Also, if needed, baby food and canned dog and cat food is offered.

When available, toiletries like toilet paper, tissues, soap, paper towels, adult diapers and feminine products are offered. These items are not guaranteed at every distribution. Selections vary, and they are offered while supplies last.

We could not do any of our programs without volunteers. We are currently helping Leah Saliby with her Whitehall-Coplay School District Snack Pack Pals Program, which is packed at our pantry. Anne Chickilly and Erik Segan will be planting the Whitehall-Coplay Hunger Initiative garden at the Mickley-Prydun Farm later this spring. We are also planning to feed children in the summer.

Our website will reflect these programs in a few weeks. To help with any of these programs, all our volunteers must have the child abuse and required clearances. Please visit our website at whitehallcoplayhungerinitiative.org and like us on Facebook at tinyurl.com/84e5afuh.

Have a great week!