Catasauqua Area School District’s Catasauqua Community Cares Program sends home a bag of breakfast, lunch and snack items each weekend for students in need of extra food.

C3P receives donations from Second Harvest Food Bank and Feed the Children, but donations from the community and community-supported organizations have been instrumental in keeping the program going. For example, the Hicks family, of Catasauqua, and friends have provided hams, turkeys and sides for Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter dinners during the past year.

The support the group has received from Holy Trinity Memorial Lutheran Church and Presbyterian Church of Catasauqua has been outstanding. They have provided financial support, along with donations of school supplies and personal items, which are available to our Catasauqua High School students through the Roughie Pantry.

Items available at the Roughie Pantry include shampoo, conditioner, body wash, soap, shaving cream, razors, toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental floss, deodorant and feminine products.

“The program helped out tremendously when times were hard and money was tight,“ a Catasauqua Middle School parent said.

Another CMS parent noted the meals being sent home have helped her son be more self-sufficient and make his meals while the parent is at work on the weekends.

“With prices going up on everything and our hours being cut at work all the time, this program has helped us out a lot,” a Sheckler Elementary School parent noted. “It allows us to worry a little less on stretching our budget.”

“The summer program was a god send last summer in providing breakfast and lunch items, which the kids normally received at school,” another CMS parent said. “It really helped my family get through the summer months.”

C3P can provide breakfast and lunch support again this summer because of the generous donation from Lehigh Valley Educators Credit Union.

If you have a CASD student and would like to register for the summer pickup, email c3P@cattysd.org or call or text 484-695-3872 with your student’s name, grade and contact information.

Additionally, volunteer help would be appreciated for food distributions once a week during the summer.

C3P receives items from Second Harvest, but items have been somewhat limited during the last few months. Donations, including snack items, pudding cups, peanut butter, macaroni and cheese, canned pasta and soup, are much appreciated. In addition, fresh produce is appreciated during the summer months.

Local businesses are also encouraged to do food drives to help supply items for the program.

For additional information or questions, email C3P@cattysd.org, call C3P coordinator Lois Reed at 484-695-3872 or leave a message at the district office at 610-264-5571.