In June 2020, Whitehall-Coplay Hunger Initiative started the Mickley Run Apartment Complex outreach program to recreate the Roseto story in Whitehall and Coplay.

Back in the 1950s, Roseto, an area outside of Bangor, was a close-knit town where neighbors worked together as a community to help their fellow neighbors. I am proud to report this has happened in Whitehall and Coplay since we opened our food pantry in January.

Through my weekly newspaper columns and email blasts, I have been emphasizing helping your friends, families, co-workers and neighbors who are in need of food. WCHI has moved through 2020 with a myriad of programs - food pantry, children’s summer feeding program, free community meals - and soon will launch senior boxes for qualified low-income seniors ages 60 and up.

Whitehall and Coplay residents have realized there truly is a food-insecurity issue right here in their backyards, and they have stepped up to help. Thank you all for this act of kindness.

Many of our guests do not have transportation to attend our food pantry or free community meals. Several households either do not own a car, rely on public transportation or walking to get around Whitehall and Coplay or there is only one car and it is needed to get the resident to work.

Our community is now helping their neighbors by bringing them to our pantry or picking up food for them and delivering it to their homes. Also, the public has made food, toiletry items and monetary donations to WCHI.

The Roseto story has come to fruition here in Whitehall and Coplay. Together, we are making a difference, and WCHI thanks you.

The next food pantry distribution is scheduled for 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and 5:30-7 p.m. Oct. 14 in the parking lot at St. John the Baptist Church, 3024 S. Ruch St., Whitehall.

Lines are long and proof of Whitehall or Coplay residency is required. For more information, call me.

For the pantry, we request these three items for the upcoming holidays: Stove Top stuffing, boxed mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce. For a full list of needed items, visit tinyurl.com/WCHIPantryList.

Several people have contacted me to organize a food and/or toiletry drive for WCHI. Go to tinyurl.com/WCHIdrive.

WCHI’s next free community meal will be 4-6:30 p.m. Oct. 19 at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, 4331 Main St., Egypt. Hot drop-and-go meals are guaranteed for the first 100 guests. For more information, call 610-730-3184.

WCHI is providing Snack Pack Pals to both Whitehall-Coplay School District and St. Elizabeth Regional School students. Children who have severe hunger needs at home receive a bag of food over long weekends to help them have something to eat before they return to school. Last week, WCSD distributed 186 packs, and St. Elizabeth gave out 10 packs for the Columbus Day weekend.

Contact Leah Saliby at salibyl@whitehallcoplay.org or Mary Spieker at dirreled@sercc.org with any questions.

WCHI has enough food to provide packs through the winter for this program. The only food item we do need is rice and pasta sides, such as Knorr pasta or rice packets.

WCHI thanks the community for your monetary and food/toiletry donations. Make checks payable to WCHI, and in the memo section, write which program your donation is for. All donations are appreciated and may be shipped to or dropped off at Re/Max Unlimited Real Estate, 1080 Schadt Ave., Whitehall, 18052. The office’s hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays and 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Sundays.

Contact me at 484-225-0358 with any questions. Have a great week.