Whitehall Lions Club hosted a bingo Oct. 4 at St. Peter Roman Catholic Church, 4 S. Fifth St., Coplay. The Lions were pleased to have 135 bingo players come out to support our three local pantries — Whitehall-Coplay Hunger Initiative, Whitehall Food Pantry at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church and Coplay Food Pantry.

I was told this was the largest attendance at a bingo held at the church to date.

A shout-out “thank you” goes to the church for hosting the bingo, all our bingo players, our fantastic bingo caller Sue, the kitchen staff and Larry, who had the bingo machine operating wonderfully!

The three food pantries also thank the Lions for hosting a wonderful bingo to raise funds for the food pantries, which are available to residents in Whitehall-Coplay School District.

Besides playing regular bingo on bingo boards and having paper specials, the Lions also had 39 basket and gift card raffle items and a 50/25/25 cash drawing. The Lions thanks our local community and the three food pantries for providing such great auction items. In addition to the wonderful baskets and gift cards, the Lions received Allentown Symphony, Community Music School, Pennsylvania Sinfonia and Hershey Bear tickets.

Players donated graciously with everything offered at the bingo including the kitchen, which sold out of all their prepared food.

The Lions raised $2,636 to be divided between the three food pantries based on their September food pantry attendance. Coplay had 43 pantry guests and received $100; St. Stephen’s had 164 guests and received $322; and WCHI had 1,137 guests and received $2,214.

Additionally, the players donated many canned and boxed food items that were divided among all three food pantries.

Thank you again to everyone in our community who made this Whitehall Lions bingo a huge success!

One of the Lions’ pillars is to address hunger, and they did this with the proceeds going to the pantries that feed our Whitehall Township and Coplay Borough residents in need. No one living in Whitehall-Coplay School District should ever be hungry when our three pantries are here to help those with food insecurity.

Consider doing a food drive for one, two or all three of our local food pantries or make a financial donation.

For the upcoming holidays, WCHI will accept any foods that are donated; however, we would like to suggest canned fruit in juice (applesauce, mixed fruit, pineapple, peaches, pears), cereal boxes, instant oatmeal (low sugar preferred), cranberry sauce, gravy (cans or packets preferred over glass), pumpkin puree, cookie/cake mixes and tomato paste.

WCHI requests donated items be within the “Best By” date of 2026 or later.

Contact both the pantry at St. Stephen’s at 484-246-5717 and Coplay Food Pantry at 610-262-0928 to see what holiday food items they may need.

Contact all three pantries if you are a WCSD resident and need food. WCHI pantry’s number is 610-442-1355.

Blessings to all, and have a great week!