Shari's Update - 9/4/21

​This article is a recap of WCHI’s Children’s Summer Feeding Program (CSFP). Thank you to everyone who was involved with this wonderful Program. Some children attended our CSFP once, some came when they could, and others came to every distribution.  Our program ran every Monday and Wednesday from 10-11am at six locations (5 in Whitehall and 1 in Coplay) from June 16th though August 25th.
 
WCHI provided 1,504 bags of food to Whitehall and Coplay low income children; 417 bags in June, 517 bags in July, and 570 bags in August.  The following were the number of total bags distributed at our six locations: Cementon 97; Coplay 227; Egypt 70; Fullerton 302; Maryland Circle 339, and Mickley Run 469.
 
On Mondays, we provided dry food for four meals; two breakfasts and two lunches.  On Wednesdays, we provided dry food for six meals; three breakfasts and three lunches. WCHI provided the children with 7,726 meals; 2,200 in June, 2626 in July, and 2,900 in August.  There were five different bags of food items provided on a rotating basis to the children throughout the summer.  The Monday bags of food weighed around 4 pounds and the Wednesday bags weighed around 6 pounds. More children attended on Wednesday.  WCHI provided 8,377 pounds of food to the children including 651 pounds of fresh vegetables from the WCHI Garden!!!
 
In July, Lehigh Valley Reads, the Whitehall Library, and the general public provided books for the children.  From July through August, children selected and kept as many books as the wanted.  They loved them!!
Also in July, WCHI provided a toy for each child for “Christmas In July”.  Steve Parrish, Financial Advisor for Edward Jones, Whitehall hosted a client holiday appreciation party last year.  His clients provided the toys and Steve provided them to us for the children. This was an unexpected surprise for the kids.
 
In August, WCHI also supplied one bag of toiletries to each child including tissues, soap, toothpaste, a toothbrush, shampoo, conditioner, and deodorant & feminine products for the older children.  Our Lehigh County grant provided the funds for these toiletries, food, and other items related to the program.  Second Harvest provided the majority of the food.  And we had generous monetary and product donations from Whitehall and Coplay residents, faith based organizations and businesses, and others outside the area.
 
Anne Chickilly and her husband, Erik Sagan, grew 651 pounds of fresh vegetables including tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, banana peppers, and zucchini at our WCHI Garden at the Mickley-Prydun Farm.  These fresh vegetables were provided every Monday and Wednesday for the children from July through the end of August. The children had big smiles when they saw the veggies. The last three Mondays in August, WCHI also received fresh vegetable donations, which included corn on the cob, from the Knights of Columbus at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Egypt.  Second Harvest also provided fresh peaches and grapes.
 
We could not have provided this much needed Children’s Program without our selfless volunteers!!  Many, many people obtained all our required child abuse clearances and were involved with this operation (which flowed seamlessly) from picking up and unloading the food from Second Harvest; sorting and packing the dry food, fresh vegetables, and toiletry bags; loading and unloading the cars to go to the distribution sites; growing the vegetables; and serving the children for 10.5 weeks.  These volunteers are truly an amazing group of fine people. 
 
For everyone who helped with our Children’s Summer Feeding Program, YOU truly made a difference in these children’s lives!!!