This week I wanted to inform you about our free Nutrition Links program with Penn State starting Oct. 4, bingo planned for Oct. 8 and needed food and monetary donations.

Whitehall-Coplay Hunger Initiative, in partnership with Penn State Extension, is offering a Learn to Eat Healthy on a Budget program. Julie Davitt, a Penn State nutrition education adviser and WCHI board member, will be teaching this class.

The class is scheduled for 10 a.m.-noon Oct. 4, 11, 18 and 25 in the social hall at St. John the Baptist Church, 3024 S. Ruch St., Whitehall.

Parents or caregivers of children who qualify for free or reduced school lunch or WIC, adults who qualify for Pennsylvania farmers market vouchers and SNAP and food pantry guests qualify for the program.

Topics include recipes, smart shopping, meal planning and preparation, food safety and nutrition. At the completion of the class, attendees will receive a certificate of completion and free kitchen tools.

For more information and to register, contact Davitt at 484-857-2736 or jbd14@psu.edu or go to extension.psu-edu/nutrition-links.

Can’t attend this program? Contact Davitt to see what other topics and classes she is offering.

WCHI will be offering bingo Oct. 8 and Nov. 12 at St. Peter Roman Catholic Church, 4 S. Fifth St., Coplay. There is no bingo in December. We will start again Jan. 14, 2024.

Doors will open 1 p.m., and bingo starts 2 p.m. Fabulous food is available to purchase.

Children are allowed to play if accompanied by an adult. The entry fee buys you two bingo boards with four games. The jackpot is $250. Bingo chips and dabbers are available for purchase on site. Call Liz Rodgers, program chair, at 484-274-6687 with questions.

WCHI obtains most of our food from Second Harvest Food Bank. We have been feeding 250 households, consisting of 1,000 people a month, and could never accomplish providing five meals a month per person without their support. Second Harvest provides food to 100 member agencies in six counties.

Its inventory, when I checked recently, was at 100 items compared at 250 items last year. We may select 25 items from their list. Items are often too large to fit in our pantry storage and guest rack space, too sugary, too salty or items are not what we want to provide to our guests.

WCHI needs your help. Can you personally make a monetary donation, donate food or host a food drive with your friends, churches, housing subdivisions, service clubs, businesses, youth groups, schools, etc.? Call 484-225-0358 or register your food drive at tinyurl.com/WCHIdrive, so we are aware and can thank you.

Food items needed include boxed potatoes; canned fruit with low sugar or light fruit syrup; condiments such as mayo, ketchup, mustard; pancake mix and syrup; pasta; ready-to-eat items like canned ravioli, SpaghettiOs, etc.; soups including creamed, chicken noodle, tomato and vegetable; and spaghetti sauce. All food items can be store brands.

All donations are appreciated and may be dropped of or shipped or mailed to Shari Noctor, Re/Max Unlimited Real Estate, 1080 Schadt Ave., Whitehall, 18052.

If delivering, leave your donations inside the foyer on the right side 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. The office is closed weekends. Make checks payable to WCHI.

Thank you, and have a great week!