HUNGER WALK HELD IN DOWNTOWN TAMAQUA

Numerous Tamaqua area churches and civic organizations took part in a Tamaqua Hunger Walk last weekend in downtown Tamaqua. Volunteers and organizations were encouraged to collected non-perishable food donations prior to the walk. The two-day event was aimed at raising awareness of the local hunger issue in providing food to two community food banks.
On Saturday, May 17, 2014, community members were asked to donate non-perishable items and drop them off at various locations. Some locations included the Tamaqua YMCA, Tamaqua Public Library, Tamaqua Salvation Army, and the Tamaqua Community Arts Center.
The Tamaqua Hunger Walk, held the next day (Sunday, May 18) starting at St. Luke’s Family Practice parking lot on South Railroad Street and circle around the borough. Following the walk, the team bringing the most pledges and the top three individual pledge walkers were recognized.
Hunger Weekend organizer Paul Dodson stated his appreciation to all who participated. Benefiting from the event were food banks at the Tamaqua Salvation Army and at Trinity United Church of Christ.
Below are ways some local organizations that took part in the event.
– The Tamaqua Rotary Club organized a food drive outside Boyer’s market in Tamaqua.
– St. Vincent DePaul Society at St. Jerome’s Roman Catholic Church collected non-perishable food items.
– St. John’s Lutheran Church sold 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 collected 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 taken part 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.
Hunger Weekend was 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.