Shari's Update - 6/20/21

​As the WCSD just finished their 2020-2021 school year, WCHI knows very well that children do rely on the free and reduced rate breakfast and lunches served at the school.  Childhood hunger is not only in the big cities nationwide, it is throughout the entire Lehigh Valley including the affluent school districts of Parkland and East Penn, and it is right here in Whitehall and Coplay.  2,070 students attending WCSD are enrolled in the breakfast and lunch program.  Many of these parents are working two jobs to make ends meet, while others are just returning to work due work layoffs attributed to Covid.  Please note that I have provided many families, who own homes living in affluent areas of Whitehall and Coplay, emergency food this year and last because they were laid off from their jobs due to Covid shut downs.
 
WCHI opened our Children’s Summer Feeding Program last Wednesday.  We have posted signs in the neighborhoods of all six areas where we are offering our program, which is every Monday and Wednesday from 10-11 am through August 25th. WCHI is not committing to July 5th until we know we have enough volunteers to work at all our locations that morning. 
 
Our goal is to feed a minimum of 500 children living in Whitehall and Coplay, a baby through age 18, throughout the summer.  WCHI has received a $35,000 Cares Act grant through Lehigh County to provide food, marketing, and needed supplies to run this program.  A big shout out THANK YOU is extended to all the Lehigh County Commissioners for approving our grant request.
 
As with all summer feeding programs (WCHI has done several before), we always start out slow when school ends and build momentum as time goes on.  We expect to hit and actually surpass our goal this summer.
 
Please remind your family, friends, and neighbors about us.  We will help the parent/guardian fill out the necessary paperwork, which has required household income limits and take three minutes.  No records are required for income and it is on the honor system.  After the first initial registration, nothing else is required except for the parent and/or child(ren) to pick up the food.  Each child receives their own bag of food on Monday and Wednesday and we provide baby food too.  The bags of food are different for 4-5 distributions and then will repeat over again.  Our June 16 bag included a full size box of cereal, 3 small shelf stable milk boxes, 1 can of Chef Boyardee, a small can of tuna fish, 1 (4) box fruit pack, and 1 Chewey granola bar. The June 21st bag is a juice box, 1 can of chicken chili or beef stew, 2 small milk boxes, pancake mix, a nutrigrain bar, a 6 pack of raisins, and a small individual bag of cookies.  June 23rd bag includes 3 small milk boxes, a can of vegetable soup, a small box of mac and cheese, 1 applesauce can, snack chips and small sandwich style crackers.  Bag food items may vary and they are available while supplies last at our 6 distribution sites.
 
Our distribution sites are located at: (1) Coplay location-Redeemed Christian Church of God, 5 N 3rd St; (5) Whitehall locations: Park and Church Streets in the Egypt Community Church social hall parking lot; 3rd & Leisenring Streets in Cementon at the school bus stop; St John’s Lutheran Church, 835 N 3rd St at the door in the alley with the ramp; Maryland Circle at the school bus stop; and Mickley Run Apartments in the west parking lot closest to the 350 building off of Overlook Rd.  Please attend the site closest to your home.
 
If you have any questions, please call/text me on my cell 610-730-8067 or 484-225-0358. 
 
Thank you for sharing this information. We want to feed the children!!
 
Have a great week.