Shari's Update - 8/7/21

​It is with great pleasure that I inform you that through our Children’s Summer Feeding Program (CSFP), from June 16th through August 4th, WCHI has provided 1,065 bags of dry food to low income Whitehall and Coplay children.  Some children came once, some come when they can, and some come every distribution. Typically, the Monday distribution provides a bag of food for each child in the household (a baby through age 18) to prepare 4 meals (2 breakfasts and 2 lunches) and the Wednesday distribution provides food for 6 meals (3 breakfasts and 3 lunches).  Bagged food is different every day for 4 to 5 distribution days and then the food repeats over again. 
 
What is even more significant is that through August 4th, WCHI has provided the food for the children to make 2,755 meals to help alleviate childhood hunger throughout the summer.  Our program continues every Monday and Wednesday 10-11am at six sites in Whitehall and Coplay through August 25th.  Whitehall and Coplay low income children can attend any Monday and Wednesday at a site closest to their home, even if they have not come before.  Please pass on this information. 
 
Our selfless volunteers should all feel very proud.  There are many hours devoted to the CSFP and to our Pantry.  Food is delivered to our WCHI Pantry via food donations delivered to my office and to the Whitehall and Coplay libraries. We also pick up food weekly from Second Harvest Food Bank.  The food is unloaded at the Pantry, sorted and bagged for both the Children’s Summer Feeding Program and for our Pantry guests.  One of the four site managers from each of the six feeding locations then comes to the Pantry to pick up the food every Monday and Wednesday.  Volunteers load their cars with the bagged food and then unload any remaining food bags after the distribution is finished at 11am.
 
Vegetables are also delivered from Anne Chickilly from our WCHI garden.  Anne and her husband Erik have been working the garden since last year.  They are currently harvesting zucchini and tomatoes.  Our volunteers sort the vegetables for each CSFP site and the site managers give the vegetables to the children, while supplies last.
 
Every Monday and Wednesday books are also provided.  The children select as many books as they want to keep. This will continue through the end of our program.  And we were able to offer Christmas in July thanks to toy donations from Steve Parrish at Edward Jones, Whitehall and Steve’s clients. 
 
The children have a great rapport with our site managers and enjoy the bagged food, fresh vegetables, books and the presents!!  Our volunteers and you the public, through your time, talent and treasures, have made a difference in these children’s lives.  THANK YOU ALL!
 
Reminder: Thursday, August 12th our Pantry is open 11-1pm and 5:30-7pm for any food insecure Whitehall or Coplay residents. Call me if you know of a homebound resident to make arrangements for you to pick up food to deliver to them.
 
Please mark your calendars and call me to register for BINGO.  We are starting again on Sunday, September 12th at Commitment to Family and Community, 165 Cherry St, Coplay.  Doors open at 1pm and bingo starts at 2pm.   Registration is $15 and you receive two bingo boards.  Additional boards are $1.00 each.  Please bring bingo chips and dabbers.  Corn will be provided if you don’t have chips.  Paper specials are 5 for $5.00.  Food will be available for purchase.