I am so proud Whitehall-Coplay Hunger Initiative is helping so many Whitehall and Coplay residents. We are definitely achieving our mission to alleviate food insecurity in Whitehall and Coplay.

Our next food distributions are 11 a.m.- 1 p.m. and 5:30-7 p.m. Dec. 9 in the St. John the Baptist Church parking lot, 3024 S. Ruch St., Whitehall.

We are hopeful we can be inside for January 2022. I will give you more information on this as we get closer to the Jan. 13, 2022, distribution date.

We jumped 40 percent in the number of households we served from our September to November distributions. We served 146 in September, 186 in October and 205 in November.

We also had a huge increase in new household registrations - 49 in September, 55 in October and 41 in November. We served 30 households last month with six or more people living in the same home.

In November, we had our highest pantry attendance this year. The 205 households were comprised of 333 adults, 300 children and 92 seniors for a total of 725 people.

We try to provide food to make five meals. Thanks to Second Harvest Food Bank and generous public food and monetary donations, we provided 3,625 meals at the November distribution.

Note that not every registered household comes monthly. We have 281 households registered since July 1 to comply with Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture reporting for the fiscal year of July 1, 2021-June 30, 2022.

Also, pantries have been told to expect an uptick in registrations through September 2022. Second Harvest reported one in nine people and one in seven children face food insecurity in Pennsylvania. Before COVID-19, one in six children were affected.

A big thank you goes out to all of you who are telling your family members, friends and neighbors about WCHI. We also thank Whitehall- Coplay School District, which has been sending out reminder calls, texts and emails to households that are registered for free and reduced-rate breakfast and lunch the evening before our distribution.

You all are making a big difference in people’s lives. Both WCHI and our guests are greatly appreciative.

WCHI’s next bingo is Dec. 12 at Commitment to Family and Community, 165 Cherry St., Coplay. Face masks are required, except for those who are on oxygen. You can take them off to eat and drink, but then they must be put back on.

Doors open 1 p.m. Bingo starts 2 p.m. You receive two bingo boards with two games on each board for the entrance fee. We also sell paper specials.

Bingo chips and dabbers are available for purchase, as are food and great desserts. Please bring an item for Snack Pack Pals, tinyurl.com/SnackPackPals, or for our food pantry, tinyurl.com/WCHIPantryList. We really need toiletries.

Call Liz at 484-274-6687 with questions and to register. Walk-ins are also welcome.

Remember this is the season for giving, and it does not need to be monetary. Continue to spread kindness every chance you get. Just a simple smile or holding a door open for someone can positively impact a person’s day!

Have a great week.