Whitehall-Coplay Hunger Initiative’s children’s summer feeding program ends Aug. 24.

WCHI provides bagged food for each child in the household 10-11 a.m. every Monday and Wednesday at one of four locations.

School starts again Aug. 29.

Whitehall and Coplay residents can still register their children during our open hours at each of our four program sites: Redeemed Christian Church of God, 5 N. Third St., Coplay; Maryland Circle Apartments, 1 Maryland Circle; Mickley Run Apartments in the parking lot closest to the 350 building; and St. John’s Lutheran Church, 835 Third St. The latter three are in Whitehall.

You will need a driver’s license or proof of residency to register, and income limits do apply. Call Sue, children’s summer feeding program chair, at 484-767-6022 with any questions.

On Mondays, each child receives one bag of shelf-stable food for two breakfasts and two lunches. On Wednesdays, the bagged food includes three breakfasts and three lunches.

WCHI rotates two Monday and two Wednesday bags of food. One Monday bag contains a jar of peanut butter, a can of vegetable soup and fruit mix, two 8-ounce containers of shelf-stable milk, macaroni and cheese, a small candy bar and an oatmeal packet. The other Monday bag includes beef stew, two granola bars, two 8-ounce containers of shelf-stable milk, a pineapple cup, crackers and a cereal box.

The Wednesday bags are either a can of tuna or chicken, vegetable soup and canned peaches, a small bag of chips, raisins, three 8-ounce containers of shelf-stable milk, an oatmeal packet and a box of cereal. The second Wednesday bag includes a cereal box, three 8-ounce containers of shelf-stable milk, a can of applesauce, a can of tuna and Spaghetti O’s, two granola bars, beef stew and an oatmeal packet.

Items may be substituted on availability. Also, when available, we provide fresh produce from our WCHI garden, Second Harvest Food Bank and Knights of Columbus.

We provided 1,352 meals in June and 1,896 meals in July. We have plenty of food to serve more children. Unfortunately, we are serving fewer children than last year. We know the need is greater this year with the high gas and food prices. Tell your Whitehall and Coplay friends, family and neighbors about our program. They can still come through Aug. 24.

WCHI provided a toy for each child for Christmas in July. Steve Parrish, financial adviser for Edward Jones, hosted a client holiday appreciation party last year. His clients provided the toys, and Parrish provided them to us for the children. This was a surprise for the kids.

In August, WCHI will be supplying a bag of toiletries to each child including tissues, soap, toothpaste, a toothbrush, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant and feminine products for the older children.

Our Lehigh County grant provides the funds for these toiletries, food and other items related to the program, Second Harvest provides most of the food, and we receive generous product and monetary donations from Whitehall and Coplay residents.

The WCHI garden at Mickley-Prydun Farm has several volunteers planting, weeding, watering and more and have been harvesting tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini and string beans for the summer program. The children love getting fresh vegetables.

After the program finishes, the vegetables will be going to our pantry guests. For more information, please call Gwen, garden chair, at 610-379-6823.

We could not be providing our children’s program without our selfless volunteers! Many people obtained all our required child abuse clearances and are involved with this operation from picking up and unloading the food from Second Harvest; sorting and packing the dry food, fresh vegetables and toiletry bags; loading and unloading the cars to go to the distribution sites; growing the vegetables; and serving the children for 10.5 weeks.

These volunteers are truly an amazing group of fine people. For everyone who helped with our children’s summer feeding program, you truly made a difference in these children’s lives!

Have a great week!