Shari's Update - 4/20/2023

WCHI is pleased to announce that at the end of April, we have been providing our Whitehall-Coplay low-income residents INSIDE Food Pantry distributions for 1 full year.  Time sure does fly!!

From January 2021 through April 2022 our selfless volunteers pre-packed all our food distribution items.  We had multiple tables outside in the St John the Baptist parking lot with each table offering a different food type or toiletry items on our distribution days.  Two lines of cars came through the parking lot for both our morning and evening distributions. Every guest received the same bagged items throughout the whole production line.

WCHI opened our inside Food Pantry distributions on May 12, 2022. Second Harvest Food Bank (SHFB) is affiliated with 40 Food Pantries in Lehigh County and over 200 Pantries in a 6-county area.  SHFB designated WCHI to be one of three Food Pantries in Lehigh County to be classified as a Healthy Choice Food Pantry, which includes providing guests with choices of low salt and low sugar items.

On distribution days, our guests have pre-scheduled appointments.  Volunteers register each household.  Our volunteers then walk our guests through the Pantry with a shopping cart – just like they are in a grocery store. The guests select their food items, and their bagged items are then placed into our guest’s car.

The number of items provided is based on the total number of people living in the household. Each household can select from canned fruit and vegetables; protein like canned tuna, chicken, salmon, beans & peanut butter; rice/pasta; ready to eat foods like Chef-Boyardee: cereal; grains; condiments; coffee; snacks; baby food; refrigerated food like milk, eggs, & cheese; frozen food; fresh produce; and personal hygiene products.  Sometimes we have dog and cat food.  All items are while they are available and while supplies last.

WCHI’s Mission is to alleviate Food Insecurity in Whitehall and Coplay. Truly, many people that live in our area are hungry and some have little or no food. I have witnessed this myself.  Please note our 1st Quarter 2023 Pantry attendance below. We are feeding almost 1,000 people a month.  No one should be hungry or be without food.  If you or someone you know needs food, please call 484-225-0358 to schedule an appointment.  Please help us help them.

​Distribution Month	January	February	March
Total Households	251	249	265
Children (Ages 0-17)	351	304	349
Adults (Ages 18-59)	420	410	445
Seniors (Ages 60+)	​195	180	196
New Households	17	22	21

We need the following food items: canned peaches, chickpeas, and tuna; 1-lb bagged rice or rice sides; boxed mac & cheese and pasta.  Food can be dropped or shipped to my Re/Max Unlimited Real Estate office, 1080 Schadt Ave, Whitehall PA  18052 - Monday through Friday 9am-5pm.  Our office staff no longer works on the weekends.  

Monetary donations are also appreciated.  Checks are payable to WCHI and can be dropped or mailed to Shari Noctor at the Re/Max Unlimited address above. 

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