Recently, members of the Gray Ribbon Riders and the team from Simplicity Hair Salon gathered at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 1900 Pennsylvania Ave., Allentown, to deliver donations to the Pennsylvania Avenue Interfaith Food Pantry.

The PAIFP was established 14 years ago, during the 2009 economic recession as a collaborative effort among four congregations: St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Notre Dame Catholic Church, St. Mark’s Lutheran Church and the Unitarian Universalist Church.

Headquartered at St. Andrew’s, the pantry distributes food on the first and third Wednesdays of each month, with partner churches rotating responsibility for each session.

The pantry serves individuals and families living primarily in West Bethlehem, East Allentown, Hanover Township and parts of Catasauqua, including zip codes 18017, 18018, 18032 and 18109.

Food is donated directly or purchased through Second Harvest Food Bank, which coordinates distribution for pantries across the Greater Lehigh Valley.

The Gray Ribbon Riders, a social riding group committed to community support, partnered in the latest collection effort.

Though not a motorcycle club, the group unites riders of two-, three- and four-wheeled vehicles in support of charitable causes, particularly those raising awareness and funds for pediatric brain tumor organizations.

Their mission centers on family-friendly fellowship and service to local communities.

Simplicity Hair Salon of Bethlehem, led by owner Jennifer Rodriguez, also played a key role. Located at 35 E. Elizabeth Ave., the salon recently served as a collection site for a local homeless shelter and extended that effort by welcoming community donations for PAIFP.

Pantry organizers expressed their deep appreciation for the salon’s outreach.

St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church is also celebrating new leadership. The Rev. Valerie Bailey was recently named priest-in-charge of both St. Andrew’s in Allentown and St. George’s Episcopal Church in Hellertown.

Before moving to Pennsylvania, Bailey served as chaplain at Williams College in Massachusetts, bringing more than 11 years of college chaplaincy experience, nearly a decade of ordained ministry and a strong background in experiential education and social justice.

“I am inspired by how the chaplains, faculty, staff and students are engaged in issues of faith and religion in a variety of ways,” she said during her time at Williams. “I am excited to be part of this process as chaplain to the college.”

At Framingham State University, where she previously served as university chaplain, she helped students from diverse religious and philosophical traditions build and strengthen their communities.

Raised in the African-American Pentecostal tradition, Bailey joined the Episcopal Church as a young adult.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Penn State, an Master of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary and completed a dissertation in Anglican studies and U.S. Episcopal Church history at General Theological Seminary.

A Celebration of New Ministry was held for Bailey presided over by The Retired Rev. Kevin Nichols, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Bethlehem.