We are entering the season of thanks and giving. We picture the bountiful cornucopia full of the harvest.

This is also the time of year when the weather requires our heaters to be turned on, our electric bills to increase and our budgets to be stretched by holiday spending. For many people, food often becomes unaffordable.

At this writing, the government-funded Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is not providing money for groceries until further notice. Many recipients of this program are homebound, elders, people with disabilities and working people with low wages.

SNAP is the first line of food assistance for those who qualify. This program allows participants to buy fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy products like milk and cheese, grains like bread and pasta and meats from grocery stores. The related WIC program for women, infants and children is also affected.

To provide some reference, the money provided by SNAP is around $7-$10 per person, per day, depending on family size. This may be only one meal a day. This does not help with other daily needs, such as money needed for personal hygiene items.

Community food pantries are the second line of assistance, and resources are stretched.

On National Food Bank Day in September, Nicole Folino, community services manager at Second Harvest Food Bank of the Lehigh Valley, shared some details to encourage public support for food banks.

“We must protect and increase funding for the State Food Purchase Program (SFPP) and the Pennsylvania Agriculture Surplus System (PASS),” she said.

These programs help provide a variety of food that helps our local pantry to provide everyday staple items and dry goods for our community. The shelves in the warehouse are not stocked as they once were, and this affects our neighbors in Lehigh and Northampton counties. Second Harvest Food Bank supports nutritious food access to school and community pantry programs including WCHI and veteran and senior food boxes.

In Pennsylvania, one in eight people experience food insecurity. In our region, one in 10 people are food insecure, including one in seven children. At this time of year, extra donations to our pantry are very much appreciated by our community.

How can you help?

Donate food to your local pantry. Whitehall-Coplay Hunger Initiative accepts nonperishable donations in the RE/MAX Unlimited office at 1080 Schadt Ave., Whitehall, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.

Organize a food drive. People giving together can help in a big way. Get together with your neighbors, coworkers, social groups, church communities and school organizations to donate. We can recommend the most-needed items at the time. The website is whitehallcoplayhungerinitiative.org.

Grocery bonus items and freebies can be donated. Unopened products in your cupboards that have not reached the best-by date on the label can be donated.

Volunteer with us! Our volunteers are a special group who give so much of their time to support the community, and we love making new friends at the pantry. We expect the number of guests to increase during the cold winter months and more help in the pantry is always welcome.

Wishing you and your family a healthy and plentiful holiday, with much to be thankful for!

Editor’s note: This column was written by Jenn Dietz.