My church has hosted a free community meal on the fourth Thursday of every month since 1976. Attendance is 80 people, on average, with 120 for Thanksgiving. When I started working on the Hunger Initiative, I was really surprised that not one of the 24 churches in Whitehall and Coplay offered such an outreach program. In talking with some of the pastors, they said I would never get this off the ground. Lo and behold, after working for four months on this project, a big, positive response came from several churches and Commitment to Family & Community, Coplay.

I invited all the church pastors and others to a free community meal meeting Nov. 12 and hoped that people would come. Many church and community leaders came. It became standing room only! I was overjoyed. This meeting was very successful in that six churches in Whitehall and Commitment to Family & Community stood up and said they would be glad to host a meal. Every month in 2016 is taken!

Whitehall Bible Fellowship Church selected four months, St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church and Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church each took two months. Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, First Presbyterian Church of Hokendauqua, Egypt Community Church and Commitment to Family & Community each took one month. Other church representatives were present and wanted to help but are limited in resources and building space to actually host a meal. They will help where and when they can. Some churches never responded at all, and that is a shame.

With half of the students in the Whitehall-Coplay School District on a free and reduced breakfast and lunch program, I knew we had a bigger problem in the community at large. You have to understand that the parents are also in need, as are senior citizens and the working poor who have no children. We do not know what kind of turnout to expect. We have to limit the meals to the first 100 guests.

The whole year is scheduled. The meals will be on the third Tuesday of the month 4-6 p.m., rotating at various churches and throughout the community. If we can get more churches involved and more funding, we hope to offer a meal twice a month. I am just happy to have this program underway.

Though we do not want to turn anyone away, we really need to access the needs of our community and adjust accordingly. We won’t know the actual number of people who are in need but hope that they would not be too proud to come out. We are here to help. Please pass the word around. Fliers are also available to be posted. Please contact me about the flier and postings to your social media friends.

These are the host churches, including locations and contact information, for the first five months. Again, the meals are offered 4-6 p.m. and are free. All of these churches are handicapped accessible.

• Jan. 19, Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church, 3355 MacArthur Road, 610-435-0451

• Feb. 16, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, 4331 Main St., 610-262-1600

• March 15, Whitehall Bible Fellowship Church, 3300 Seventh St., 610-434-8661

• April 19, St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 835 Third St., 610-264-3762

• May 17, Egypt Community Church, 4129 S. Church St., 610-262-4961

It costs approximately $125 to $150 to host a meal, which would usually consist of a salad, hot meal, dessert and a drink (iced tea, coffee, tea, etc.). If you would like to make a dessert, help with the meal in setting up, serving, cleaning up or making a donation, please contact me or the churches directly.

To help offset the costs of the meal, I will be doing a cash bingo at Commitment to Family & Community Feb. 7, March 6 and April 3. Call me for more information. Please note that not all of the churches agree with the gambling, and some will not take money from this fundraiser.

These meals are for those in need and for those who would like social interaction. Again, these are free. Please let us help you and the community.

Call me for more information at 610-266-5241 or email me at Shari@sharinoctor.com

If you are interested in attending the Hunger Initiative meetings, they are held the fourth Tuesday of the month at both 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. at Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church. You are more than welcome to come and see what we do. We are really making a positive difference in people’s lives.