In October 2015, I contacted and held a meeting to partner with our local faith-based organizations in Whitehall and Coplay to provide free community meals to low-income Whitehall and Coplay residents.

At that first meeting, all the 2016 meals were set for 4-6 p.m. the third Tuesday of each month. Besides providing a hot nutritious meal, we wanted our guests to benefit from a place to socialize. Many of our guests are seniors living alone.

Our 2016 meals were a huge hit! Our guests were making new friends. For some, this was a night out. Some guests dressed up and looked forward to spending time with their new friends. Some started saving seats and invited others to share their table.

Whitehall-Coplay Hunger Initiative attained our goals for nutritious hot meal access and socialization.

COVID-19 happened, and everything was put on hold until it was safe again to host these meals. After the pandemic, we started providing takeout meals only.

Now we are back to inside sit-down meals, as they were originally intended. Today, we continue providing these free hot meals with our same goals mentioned above.

We invite all low- income households to attend our meals. Everyone is welcome and can attend both meals 4-6 p.m. the first Sunday and third Tuesday of each month. The host location will determine the number of meals prepared and will be served on a first-come, first-served basis until gone.

WCHI also posts a meal reminder on Facebook and Instagram. The meal being served is also be posted. You can see our meal list from May through August on our website.

Besides having our WCHI Food Pantry account with Second Harvest Food Bank, WCHI is also designated as a soup kitchen with a separate food account for these meals. Many of our partners provide all the food for their delicious meals, while others will make scrumptious meals from ingredients Second Harvest has to offer.

We are so happy and grateful our community comes together to volunteer their time, talents and treasures to host these free community meals for our guests.

I want to give a huge shout-out and thank you to all the faith-based organizations and others that provide these meals. They obtain the food, prepare the meals, set up the eating areas, serve the meals and clean up. Many hands help to make each meal a huge success. We cannot do this much-needed outreach program without you, and we truly are grateful for all your support.

Our awesome meal partners provide a total 24 meals a year for our community. Several have the physical space and manpower to offer more than one meal.

• Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church: two meals

• First Presbyterian Church of Hokendauqua: one meal

• Muslim Association of the Lehigh Valley: four meals

• St. Elizabeth of Hungary Roman Catholic Church: two meals

• St. John’s Lutheran Church: two meals

• St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church: one meal

• St. Peter Roman Catholic Church: two meals

• Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church: three meals

• Whitehall Active Community Center: two meals

• Whitehall Bible Fellowship Church: four meals

• WCHI with Whitehall Wawa: one meal

I also would like to thank all the meal providers for posting our meals in the bulletins and have our fliers available for new and repeat guests. As a community working together, we truly are making a difference in people’s lives.

If you have any questions about hosting and attending our planning meeting for 2025 or want more information, call Karen Haberern at 610-730-3184.

Thank you, and have a great week!