I have exciting news to share with you.

But first, I want to let you know there will not be a free community meal on New Year’s Day. The next meal will be Jan. 17, 2023.

We also have bingo Jan. 8, 2023, at St. Peter Roman Catholic Church, 4 S. Fifth St., Coplay. Doors open 1 p.m.

More information on both events will be shared next week.

Food insecurity has been around worldwide forever. In 2014, Whitehall-Coplay Hunger Initiative worked toward alleviating food insecurity in Whitehall and Coplay. In 2015, there was a Lehigh Valley food insecurity meeting held at Sacred Heart Hospital. Former Whitehall Mayor Ed Hozza and I were invited with around 100 Lehigh Valley residents.

I became part of the Lehigh Valley Food Policy Council and served on the food access work group. I have worked ever since with Susan Dalandan, LVFPC coordinator, and several other amazing people who want to help end food insecurity.

This information now comes from Dalandan and Gov. Tom Wolf‘s office via a news release:

“LVFPC has much to be proud of in our past seven years of work. Our task forces and work groups remain committed to working together,” Dalandan said. “They continue to bring new partners to the table in addressing problems in the Lehigh Valley food system and continue to influence regional and state policy.

“We are so excited about the final accomplishment of this year! Former Executive Director of Pittsburgh Food Policy Council Dawn Plummer and LVFPC Coordinator Susan Dalandan wrote the position paper for Gov. Wolf and Secretary (Russell) Redding on the creation of a statewide food policy council.

“We are so happy that, after long fourth-quarter negotiations with the governor’s office and the legislative office of the Department of Agriculture, Gov. Wolf announced the creation of a state food policy council. This will further the work of the Department of Agriculture and the state’s commitment to a strong food system in Pennsylvania.”

Wolf’s Dec. 15 news release said, “In an action finalizing his legacy of support to improve access to food for all Pennsylvanians, Gov. Tom Wolf today signed an executive order creating the Pennsylvania Food Policy Council.

“Food is a basic human right that has the power to change lives,” Wolf said. “This food policy council will work for the people of Pennsylvania, to improve their everyday lives and our collective future. It is our responsibility and our duty to take hunger off the table.”

The Pennsylvania Food Policy Council will build on this progress through continued evaluation of the issues facing Pennsylvania’s food system and developing strategies to improve food security and nutrition while reducing food waste.

The duties of the council, which will include a director along with the secretaries of the Departments of Aging, Agriculture, Education, Environmental Protection, Health, Human Services and Labor and Industry, will include making recommendations to promote coordination, communication and joint planning between agency programs and external partners in the private sector to support the food system; developing recommendations on improved partnerships to better reach those at the highest risk of hunger and expand food and nutrition delivery systems; developing recommendations to reduce food waste across Pennsylvania; developing and implementing strategies to expand the use of Pennsylvania agricultural products in public and private food assistance programs; and developing a food action plan to be updated on a biennial basis and include a strategic plan to accomplish goals and measure progress.

I am so thrilled we now have a Pennsylvania Food Policy Council, so we all can work together statewide and locally to alleviate food insecurity. This is great news. What a wonderful way to end 2022 and start 2023!

Happy New Year!