Whitehall-Coplay Hunger Initiative and I are so grateful for all the community’s generosity in providing food, toiletry items and pet food for our guests. I wanted to acknowledge and thank the churches, school clubs, day cares, businesses, organizations and the general public for donating more than 18,714 pounds of needed items in 2024.

Sue Butchinski, WCHI board member and pantry volunteer, contacted all the faith-based organizations in Whitehall and Coplay to see if they would like to participate and donate a specific item of food or do a general food drive monthly for WCHI. Many already do free community meals for us, and we are most grateful.

Four local churches do participate in the monthly food drive program. First Presbyterian of Hokendauqua collected 1,336 pounds of pasta; Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church collected 1,333 pounds of food; St. John the Baptist Church collected 414 pounds of canned tuna; and St. Peter Roman Catholic Church collected 1,180 pounds of cereal.

A food donation was also made by the Catholic Women’s Society of Giving of the Diocese of Allentown.

If you would like to do a faith-based food drive for WCHI, call Sue at 484-767-6022.

Schools and day cares also collected food items for WCHI. Good Shepherd Catholic School, Northampton, collected 1,132 pounds; Shoemaker Elementary School, Macungie, collected 677 pounds; St. Elizabeth Regional School, Whitehall, collected 470 pounds; Goddard School, Center Valley, collected 336 pounds; Learning Tree Child Care Center, Whitehall, collected 31 pounds; Whitehall-Coplay School District London Club and Scholastic Scrimmage collected 56 pounds; WCSD Science National Honor Society collected 208 pounds; Steckel Elementary School, WCSD, collected 2,078 pounds; and Zephyr Elementary School, WCSD, collected 518 pounds.

Girl Scout Troop 6011 collected 40 pounds; Hokendauqua Pool patrons and staff collected 50 pounds; Horizons at the Village, Whitehall, collected 229 pounds; Minsi Trails Scouting America collected 433 pounds; Smart Warehouse collected 1,340 pounds; St. Luke’s Fitness and Performance Center collected 324 pounds; Taylor Villas collected 868 pounds; WCHI bingo players collected 637 pounds; Whitehall Lion’s Club collected 38 pounds; Whitehall Wawa collected 162 pounds; and WIC collected 121 pounds.

WCHI also had 19 people and one cat donate food, toiletries and pet food. I did not print their names since I did not have time to ask permission before this week’s newspaper deadline. Buster, the cat, said it was OK to use his name. The total poundage for all 20 donations was 924. All donations that came into the Re/Max Unlimited foyer totaled 3,732 pounds.

The grand total is a fantastic 18,714 pounds of donations.

WCHI currently needs cereal, oatmeal, pancake mix, 16-ounce peanut butter, canned fruit in fruit juice or light syrup and chicken noodle soup. Food donations can be dropped off or shipped to WCHI, c/o Re/Max Unlimited Real Estate, 1080 Schadt Ave., Whitehall, 18052.

Thank you, everyone, for your generosity and continued support. Together, we all are making a difference in people’s lives.