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Whitehall-Coplay Hunger Initiative (WCHI) is a PA Healthy food Pantry Initiative (PA HPI) as mentioned in previous newspaper articles. We strive to improve our Pantry food choices by offering low/no salt and low sugar food items, when possible. And we work closely with our Second Harvest Food Bank HPI Coordinator, Kim Slack, on a variety of healthy goals included food tastings and recipes during distribution days.
WCHI is also partnering with Penn State Extension Lehigh County to provide their FREE Nutrition Links program to our Pantry guests and others who qualify for the program. Julie Davitt, who is a Nutrition Education Adviser for Penn State and a WCHI Board member, will be teaching upcoming food educational classes. The Nutrition Links classes will be offered this summer and in October in the morning for 1.5 hours each for four consecutive weeks. The location will be in the white social building behind our Pantry at the end of the Church parking lot. More info will be posted on our FB page and on our website https://tinyurl.com/WCHIprograms in the coming weeks. This info comes directly from https://extension.psu.edu/nutrition-links “Participants in this free program complete in-person lessons featuring healthy eating tips on smart shopping, food preparation, and delicious recipes, as well as food safety lessons. Classes include hands-on activities and cooking demonstrations to reinforce the learning process. Our evaluation data demonstrates the effectiveness of the program's impact on participants' behaviors in food selection, dietary intake, management of resources, and food safety. Participants are taught how to make positive changes to achieve good nutrition and health; Control portion sizes; Practice food resource management skills; Practice food safety in preparation; Practice safe storage and handling of food; Increase physical activity. 93% of participants made positive dietary changes. 78% of participants showed improvement in food resource management practices. Nutrition Links provides research-based nutrition education to help people and families with limited resources enhance their nutrition, increase their physical activity, and develop life skills needed for self-sufficiency and better health. Our classes are a very rewarding experience for everyone, impacting the health and well-being of the entire family. We partner with many agencies in the community to enhance the services offered and reach the limited-resource audience. Nutrition Links is federally funded and supported by local resources/dollars. Funds come from the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP). Nutrition Links Programs are for Families with young children (under the age of 19) living in either rural or urban areas who are responsible for the planning, purchasing, and preparing of the family's food; Pregnant women; Pregnant and Parenting Teens; School-age youth (5 - 19 years of age); Preschoolers and their parents.” For more information, please contact Julie Davit at [email protected] Thank you and have a great week!!
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