Help Feed the Hungry

SNBS Program:

  1. Speak with individuals or families in need and assess their situation.
  2. Advise them about local Food Assistance (Banks) (dates/times/locations - see below).
  3. Provide transportation to/from Food Banks if needed.
  4. Take them to grocery stores, provide some nutritional guidance with food purchases, and help purchase food.
    • NOTE: Money for food items will provided, you will help with transportation and efficient spending.

To Help Feed the Hungry, please Donate or Volunteer your time and fellowship.

Food Assistance in Allentown & Bethlehem
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel (Catholic Social Agency-Catholic Charities):
  • Soup Kitchen 179 Chew St., Allentown (2nd and Chew)
  • 610-435-1541
  • Friday, Saturday, Monday: 12:00—1:00 PM Hot Meals for Lunch. (Also provide groceries 12:30—1:30 PM)
Saints Simon and Jude Church Food Pantry:
  • 730 W. Broad St., Bethlehem
  • 610-866-5582
  • Pantry open the third Saturday of every month, starting 8:00—11:00 AM
Lehigh County Conference of Churches:
  • 457 W. Allen St (Dubbs Memorial Community Center), Allentown
  • 610-433-6421
  • Monday—Friday: Breakfast 8:00—9:00 AM
  • Lunch 11:45 AM—12:45 PM
  • Dinner 4:00—4:30 PM
Allentown Ecumenical Food Bank:
  • 417 N. 14th St., Allentown
  • 610-821-1332 ID needed
  • Three-day supply of emergency food once per month.
  • Weekdays 9:00 AM—12 Noon and Thursday evening 4:00—6:00 PM to pick up food. Closed on holidays

Pennsylvania Avenue Interfaith Food Pantry:

  • 1900 Pennsylvania Ave., Bethlehem
  • 610-865-3603
  • Open 1st & 3rd Wednesday from 6:00—8:00 PM
Second Harvest Food Bank
  • 1-484-287-4015
  • Although not a traditional food bank (they distribute donated food to all local food banks), the folks answering this phone will help the caller find the closest, open food bank in the Lehigh Valley, based on their ZIP code, including the days and hours of operation.
Pennsylvania Avenue Interfaith Food Pantry
  • 1900 Pennsylvania Ave., Bethlehem
  • 610-865-3603
  • Open 1st & 3rd Wednesday from 6-8 p.m.
Promise Food & Wellness Center (Promise Neighborhoods of the Lehigh Valley)
  • 13th Street, basement of Hays Elementary School
  • 610-351-4288 office number 484-719-7020 Talha Castro at the school
  • www.orderhead.org —clients can go on line on a Sun. at to place an order to be picked up
  • Open Wed. through Fri. 4-7 p.m. & 1st and 3rd Sat. 9 am-12pm Make requests online for specific supplies/pick up date.
What does the Church Say?

The Catholic Church teaches that feeding the hungry is of utmost importance. The Church sees Christ in the poor and is called to support the entire human family through acts of solidarity and creative gestures of assistance [1]. It is the responsibility of every individual, especially those who are more blessed with worldly goods, to be mindful of the undernourished peoples and to educate their conscience to the sense of responsibility towards them [2]. The Lord's Prayer, specifically the petition "Give us this day our daily bread," reminds Christians of their duty to exercise responsibility towards their hungry brethren and to show solidarity with the human family [3]. The Church recognizes that the drama of hunger in the world calls for practical steps to end or reduce the scandal of hunger and malnutrition, especially in developing countries. The Christian laity, formed at the school of the Eucharist, are called to assume their specific political and social responsibilities in this regard [5]. The Catholic community brings a consistent moral framework, drawn from basic human reason and illuminated by Scripture and Church teaching, to assess issues related to hunger and poverty [6]. The Church emphasizes the importance of education in charity and justice, as well as the need to promote and teach the Church's social doctrine, in order to address the burning social issue of hunger [5]. The Church recognizes that providing for the needs of the poor is highly praised by the Lord, and that teaching and admonishing to provide for the eternal profit of the soul is even more precious in His eyes [4]. Therefore, the Catholic Church teaches that feeding the hungry is not only a matter of physical sustenance but also a means to build peace and fulfill the command of Christ to care for those in need [1].

Footnotes:

  1. [42nd World Day of Peace - FIGHTING POVERTY TO BUILD PEACE 15] https://www.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/messages/peace/documents/hf_ben-xvi_mes_20081208_xlii-world-day-peace.html
  2. [Mater et Magistra 158] https://www.vatican.va/content/john-xxiii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_j-xxiii_enc_15051961_mater.html
  3. [CCC 2831] http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__PAA.HTM
  4. [Acerbo Nimis 8] https://www.vatican.va/content/pius-x/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-x_enc_15041905_acerbo-nimis.html
  5. [Sacramentum Caritatis 91] https://www.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/apost_exhortations/documents/hf_ben-xvi_exh_20070222_sacramentum-caritatis.html#INTRODUCTION
  6. [Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship 12] https://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/faithful-citizenship/upload/forming-consciences-for-faithful-citizenship.pdf