In my Aug. 29 article, I mentioned Whitehall-Coplay Hunger Initiative has been increasing our 2024 pantry guest registrations.

We reached a record in April, serving 1,219 guests who attended our pantry. In August, WCHI served a low of 913 guests. WCHI achieved an all-time-high guest attendance record in September by serving 1,306 guests, consisting of 335 households of 477 children, 594 adults and 235 seniors.

If everyone shows up for their October appointments, we should break the September record. Our mission is to alleviate food insecurity in Whitehall and Coplay.

WCHI is very proud to provide this much-needed community outreach program to help our residents with a basic need — food. We cannot feed our guests if we don’t have food. And we could not serve them without all our fabulous, selfless volunteers.

“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much,” Helen Keller said.

In 2023, Second Harvest Food Bank provided WCHI with 198,942 pounds of food. The value of that food was $285,229.

Second Harvest is not a store. Food is inventoried and kept in a huge warehouse for pantry and other food partners such as soup kitchens. Food products come from U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and local grocery stores that move out older inventory to make room for newer-dated products. WCHI has not received any 2024 updated food data from Second Harvest.

An important note about sell-by food dates. Canned goods are good for five years past their sell-by date. If the can is rusted, dented or bulging, it must be thrown out. Most food in cardboard boxes, like pasta and cereal, is good for one year.

The only thing that must be thrown out is baby formula. At its expiration date, there no longer are any nutrients left in the formula that a baby can use.

We do have expired sale date products in our pantry as they come in from Second Harvest. We explain the expired dates to our guests. WCHI can provide printout information on product dating from USDA.

WCHI relies on Lehigh County and public nonprofit grant funds, the generous public angels who provide the foods we need that we cannot get from Second Harvest and monetary donations to purchase the items we need.

See the items we are requesting at tinyurl.com/yrc7wy54 or go to our website, whitehallcoplayhungerinitiative.org.

Thank you to all of our public donors who send checks payable to WCHI or drop food off at my Re/Max Unlimited office, 1080 Schadt Ave., Whitehall, 18052. Donations can be dropped off 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. You all are truly angels!

Even with all the food in the world, WCHI could not do the essential work we are doing without our selfless volunteers. My article for next week will be on our dedicated and wonderful volunteers.

Have a great week, and call me with any questions on my personal cell, 610-730-8067. If you need a pantry appointment, call 484-225-0358.