This article is to request items Whitehall-Coplay Hunger Initiative needs for both the food pantry and for Snack Pack Pals.

Faith-based organizations, civic groups and businesses, as well as friends and neighbors, can do food drives. Please inform us if you are doing a drive by registering at tinyurl.com/WCHIdrive.

The WCHI Food Pantry provides monthly food distributions to those needing assistance. Due to current COVID-19 circumstances, we must pre-pack and distribute food in plastic grocery bags. On average, WCHI provides food to 250 households monthly. Your donations are greatly appreciated.

Please note the suggested sizes to assist us in keeping bags manageable for distribution, including plastic jars - not glass - when possible.

Needed pantry food items include boxed potatoes, 4 to 5 oz.; boxed stuffing, 6 oz.; canned beans, such as baked beans, black, kidney and northern, 15 oz.; canned soup, 15 oz.; regular and whole-grain cereal, 12 oz.; Chef Boyardee, 18-oz. cans; granola/cereal bars, five to 10 bars per box; Hamburger Helper; macaroni and cheese boxes; oatmeal, six to 10 packets per box; pancake syrup, 24 oz.; rice, 1-lb. bags/boxes, plain or flavored; rice and pasta sides, such as Knorr pasta or rice packets; shelf-stable milk, 32 oz.; and tomato/spaghetti sauce.

We also need the following toiletry items: diapers, baby and adult; feminine products; shampoo and conditioner; soap; tissues; toilet paper; toothpaste; and toothbrushes. Food and toiletries should be placed in separate bags. Refrigerated, frozen, perishable or homemade items will not be accepted due to food safety liability reasons.

WCHI also fully administers the Snack Pack Pals program with assistance from Whitehall-Coplay School District and St. Elizabeth Regional School. The mission is to combat hunger for the most food-insecure students at both schools by providing a pack of kid-friendly, easy-to-prepare meals and snacks to supplement their nutrition over school holidays and long weekends. On average, WCHI provides 157 bags of shelf-stable food to WCSD and 10 bags to St. Elizabeth’s monthly.

Please purchase the specific items, as they provide the best nutritional value and allow us to easily label each serving with ingredients and allergen information to ensure the safety of our students.

Needed items include cereal, whole-grain variety pack, small boxes; Sam’s Club fruit cups, diced peaches or mandarin oranges; Welch’s or Motts fruit snacks; Quaker Chewy granola bars; Jif To Go peanut butter, 1.5-oz. pods; Kraft macaroni and cheese, microwaveable single-serve cups; Quaker oatmeal packets; Snack Pack pudding cups, 3.25 oz.; Knorr pasta or rice packets; shelf-stable milk, 8 oz.; and individually labeled snack bags such as chips, Doritos, pretzels, etc.

All food and toiletry donations are appreciated and may be shipped to or dropped off at Re/Max Unlimited Real Estate, 1080 Schadt Ave., Whitehall, 18052.

Please leave donations inside the foyer on the right, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays and 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Sundays.

Monetary donations are also appreciated. Make checks payable to WCHI, and put the program you want the money applied to in the memo section. Mail to WCHI at the Re/Max address above.

For our guests who receive WCHI food, note canned items are good five years after the best buy date, which is only a freshness date. WCHI does not provide cans that are dented, swollen or rusted because they are not safe and are thrown out. Boxed items stay good two years after the freshness date.