From day one, the mission of Whitehall-Coplay Hunger Initiative has been to alleviate food insecurity in Whitehall and Coplay.

We are doing our best to help low-income residents by offering several programs: our choice food pantry, senior boxes, children’s food program and free community meals.

The pantry is located at St. John the Baptist Church complex in the Christ the King School, 3024 S. Ruch St., Stiles. Our pantry is open 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. and 4:30-7 p.m. the second and third Thursdays of the month. This is by appointment only.

Income limits apply, and proof of residency is required.

Call 484-225-0358 today to schedule your October appointment.

Recent pantry attendance includes:

• June: 240 households with 360 children, 362 adults and 150 seniors for 872 total people

• July: 200 households with 275 children, 321 adults and 169 seniors for 765 total people

• August: 222 households with 327 children, 366 adults and 170 seniors for 863 total people

• September: 215 households with 349 children, 366 adults and 161 seniors for 876 total people

WCHI is now offering senior boxes to our pantry guests aged 60 and older who may also qualify for an additional 35-pound food box, which includes nonfat dry and shelf-stable fluid milk, juice, oats, ready-to-eat cereal, rice, pasta, dry beans, peanut butter, canned meat, poultry or fish and canned fruits and vegetables.

If you financially qualify for a senior box, the paperwork will be completed during your pantry visit.

WCHI has been administrating the Snack Pack Pals program with Whitehall-Coplay School District for a few years.

A Snack Pack Pals bag provided additional food for the child for long weekends when school was closed. Some children were not taking the bags of food. They either didn’t like the food we provided and/or there was the food-insecurity stigma. We also noticed we were feeding many more children monthly through our pantry.

At our monthly pantry distributions, we are now going to provide more food specifically for children. The parents select the food items so we know they will eat the food, and there is no stigma. This is a win-win.

We renamed the Snack Pack Pals program the children’s food program and have all the donated funds in this new account. We no longer are providing Snack Pack Pals to WCSD.

WCHI and the faith-based community are proud to provide these free community meals to low-income Whitehall/Coplay residents twice a month.

All are welcome to attend both meals, held 4-6:30 p.m. the first Sunday and third Tuesday each month. Meals are guaranteed for the first 100 guests.

Once the meals have been given out, the doors will be closed.

WCHI will post site requirements on Facebook for each meal a few days before.

The October schedule includes:

• Oct. 2: Muslim Association of the Lehigh Valley, 1988 Schadt Ave., Whitehall (703-346-8698)

• Oct. 18: Redeemed Christian Church of God, 5 N. Third St., Coplay (610-262-8993)

Our free community meals are scheduled through December.

A meeting will be held 11 a.m. Oct. 18 at our pantry with the faith-based community to schedule the 2023 meals.

Call 484-225-0358 with questions.

Have a great week!