Numerous Tamaqua area churches and civic organizations are asking the community’s support for this weekend’s Tamaqua Hunger Weekend by donating food and taking part in the Tamaqua Hunger Walk on Sunday.
The two-day event is aimed at raising awareness of the local hunger issue in providing food to two community food banks.
On Saturday, community members are asked to donate non-perishable items and drop them off at various locations. Some of which include the Tamaqua YMCA, Tamaqua Public Library, Tamaqua Salvation Army, and the Tamaqua Community Arts Center.
The Tamaqua Hunger Walk is scheduled for Sunday, May 18 starting at 2 PM. Registration for the walk will begin at 1:15 PM at the St. Luke’s Family Practice parking lot on South Railroad Street. The walk’s rain date is May 25. Following the walk, the team bringing the most pledges and the top three individual pledge walkers will be recognized.
Individuals may also participate by donating food items. Collected food items can be brought to the walk registration site May 18.
Hunger Weekend organizer Paul Dodson said food banks at the Tamaqua Salvation Army and at Trinity UCC will benefit from the event.
Tamaqua churches and community and school organizations have been invited to participate by making cash donations, gathering food items and by participating in the May 18 Hunger Walk through the streets of the community.
Below are ways some local organizations have already helped:
– The Tamaqua Rotary Club collected canned food items outside Boyer’s market in Tamaqua.
– St. Vincent DePaul Society at St. Jerome’s Roman Catholic Church is collecting non-perishable food items.
– St. John’s Lutheran Church has been selling shoe cutouts in support of the walk and is including a Hunger Walk insert in its bulletin to remind members about the food collection.
– Zion Lutheran Church is collecting food items this month and used its April Joyful Noise loose change collection to raise money to support its Hunger Walk team.
– St. John’s United Church of Christ, Trinity United Church of Christ, St. Peter’s Union Church and Bethany Evangelical Congregational Church have also indicated they are participating in the weekend.
– New Life Assembly of God conducted a Feed the Need program May 11 and reached 142 people representing 52 families by providing a meal, groceries, clothing and a haircut for children.
Congregations and organizations wishing to participate are welcome. Participation forms available online at www.taffn.org or at the Tamaqua Chamber of Commerce office at 114 West Broad Street, Tamaqua. Forms will also be available at the walk registration May 18.
Individuals can also make cash donations during the Hunger Walk. Checks for Hunger Weekend or the walk should be made out to the Tamaqua Area Community Partnership and marked “HUNGER.”
Hunger Weekend is a project of the Tamaqua Area Community Partnership and the Tamaqua Area Faith Fellowship Network.
For more information, call organizer Paul Dodson at (570) 668-0289.

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