Shari's Update - 7/29/2022

WCHI’s Children’s Summer Feeding Program (CSFP) has 8 more days until the program finishes on August 24th.  School starts again on August 29th.  WCHI provides bagged food for each child in the household a baby through age 18 every Monday and Wednesday from 10-11am at one of our four CSFP locations.

Whitehall and Coplay residents can still register their children during our open hours at each of our four program sites: Redeemed Christian Church of God, 5 N 3rd St Coplay; Maryland Circle Apts at 1 Maryland Circle; Mickley Run Apts in the parking lot closest to the 350 building; and St John’s Lutheran Church, 835 3rd St.  The latter three are in Whitehall.  You will need a driver’s license or proof of residency to register, and income limits do apply. Questions, please call Sue, CSFP Chair, at 484-767-6022.

On Monday each child receives one bag of shelf stable food for two breakfasts and two lunches.  On Wednesday, the bagged food includes three breakfast and three lunches. WCHI rotates two Monday and two Wednesday bags of food. One Monday bag contains a jar of peanut butter, a can of vegetable soup and fruit mix, 2 8-oz shelf stable milk, mac & cheese, a small candy bar, and 1 oatmeal packet.  The other Monday bag include beef stew, 2 granola bars, 2 8-oz shelf stable milk, a pineapple cup, crackers, and a cereal box.  The Wednesday bags are either a can of tuna or chicken, vegetable soup and canned peaches, a small bag of chips, raisins,,3 8-oz shelf stable milk, 1 oatmeal packet and a box of cereal. The 2nd Wednesday bag includes a cereal box, 3 8-oz shelf stable milk, 1 can of applesauce, 1 tuna and 1 skettios, 2 granola bars, 1 beef stew and 1 oatmeal packet.  Items may be substituted on obtainability.  Also, when available, we provide fresh produce from our WCHI Garden, Second Harvest Food Bank, and Knights of Columbus.

In June we provided 1,352 meals and in July we provided 1,896 meals. We have plenty of food to serve more children.  Unfortunately, we are serving less children than last year.  We know the need is greater this year with the high gas and food prices. Please tell your Whitehall-Coplay friends, family, and neighbors about our program.  They can still come through August 24th.

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 a surprise for the kids.

In August, WCHI will be supplying a 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 provides the funds for these toiletries, food, and other items related to the program.  Second Harvest provides most of the food.  And we receive generous product and monetary donations from Whitehall and Coplay residents

The WCHI Garden at Mickley-Prydun Farm has several volunteers planting, weeding, watering, etc and have been harvesting tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, and string beans for the CSFP.  The children love getting fresh vegetables.  After CSFP finishes, the vegetables will be going to our Pantry guests.  Questions, please call Gwen, Garden Chair, at 
610-379-6823.

We could not be providing our Children’s Program without our selfless volunteers!!  Many, many people obtained all our required child abuse clearances and are involved with this operation 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!!!

Have a great week!!

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