Since 2016, the Whitehall and Coplay faith-based community and others have been proud to work with Whitehall-Coplay Hunger Initiative to provide free community meals to low-income Whitehall-Coplay School District residents.

At first, they were offered once a month, but there was such a need for both food and social companionship, we started offering them twice a month.

All age groups are welcome to attend both free community meals, held 4-6 p.m. the first Sunday and the third Tuesday of the month. WCHI posts meal reminders on both Facebook and Instagram. The meal being served also will be posted. It will state if it is a sit-down or takeout meal or a version of both.

Thank you to all our free meal partners who have provided this much-needed outreach program over the years.

Below, our 2026 meal partners are listed in alphabetical order, and in parenthesis are the number of times they will host a meal in 2026. Each church is located in Whitehall, unless otherwise marked.

• Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church (2); Muslim Association of the Lehigh Valley (3); Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church (2); St. Elizabeth of Hungary Roman Catholic Church (1); St. John the Baptist Catholic Church (2); St. John’s Lutheran Church, Coplay, with the meal provided by Samuel Owens Restaurant and Bar (1); St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church (2); St. Peter Roman Catholic Church, Coplay (2); Whitehall Active Community Center (2); Whitehall Bible Fellowship Church (4); Whitehall Lions Club (1); Whitehall Wawa, at St. John the Baptist’s social hall (1)

The last meal of 2025 was held Dec. 16. From the Jan. 5-Dec. 7 meals in 2025, WCHI, through our meal partners, provided 1,641 meals to 1,111 Whitehall and Coplay households.

Some guests come to every meal, some come when they can, and some are brand-new guests. We are very appreciative of all our community partners who provide these meals and to all our guests who attend them. Thank you, everyone!

The next four meals in 2026 will be held on the following dates, weather permitting.

• Jan. 4: St. Peter Roman Catholic Church, 4 S. Fifth St., Coplay (610-262-2417)

• Jan. 20: Whitehall Active Community Center, 201 Pine St., Whitehall (610-533-1357)

• Feb. 1: Muslim Association of the Lehigh Valley, 1988 Schadt Ave., Whitehall (703-346-8698)

• Feb. 17: St. John the Baptist Church’s social hall, 3024 S. Ruch St., Whitehall (610-730-3184). This meal is provided by Wawa.

For the entire 2026 free community meal schedule, go to our website at whitehallcoplayhungeriniitative.org.

If anyone has questions about our free community meals or would like to host one for 2027, call Karen Haberern, program chair, at 610-730-3184.