Allentown food bank in dire need of donations
BY JENNIFER KOHLHEPP
Staff Writer

Above, Pat Gagnon, a deacon at the Alentown Presbyterian Church, carries bags of donated food into the pantry at the church, where goods have reached an all-time low. At right, the food pantry needs immediate donations. Gagnon sorts out goods in the background.

ALLENTOWN — The cupboards have gone bare at the local food pantry.

The Good Neighbor Network, of Allentown, has an immediate need for donations to the food pantry in the Allentown Presbyterian Church, located at 20 High Street, according to Cindy Duvin, a deacon at the church.

The Good Neighbor Network, which is operated by about eight volunteers and overseen by nine local deacons, distributes food and other necessities to families in need on a regular basis, as well as throughout the holiday season, according to Joan Lee, who has worked at the church for more than 19 years.

“Every day I have at least one family in here, but usually it’s more than that,” Lee said. “There seems to be an increasing need in our community.”

PHOTOSBY JEFF GRANIT staff

Lee said the community food pantry has serviced people in need in the Allentown area for at least 30 years.

“We’re glad to be able to offer this service,” Lee said. “Whole families come in here, sometimes with children, and they need this food.”

All of the churches in Allentown, and many members of the community, collect and donate goods to the community food bank, Lee said.

Lee organizes and operates the pantry, which is located in the basement of the church’s office building.

“The pantry is pretty much open whenever I am here,” Lee said.

Lee said she wants to get area residents to give prior to the holiday season.

“In this area,” Lee said, “we have so much, and we should help those that don’t.”

Lee said the food pantry is currently more bare than she has ever seen it.

“We’re down a lot right now,” Lee said. “The deacons like to give out 30 to 40 boxes of food during the holidays, and that takes a lot of food that we currently don’t have.”

For the holidays, the food bank likes to have donations of turkeys, hams and other foods generally associated with various traditions, Lee said.

“Although it’s great that people donate more during the holidays, giving is something that people should do all year-round,” Lee said.

The Good Neighbor Network, which the late Rev. Edward Schulte started approximately 35 years ago, also provides financial assistance to area residents in emergency situations, Lee said. The network, which is run by about eight volunteers, is overseen by nine deacons, Lee said.

“The funds in the network have provided money for people to pay their fuel bills and electric bills,” Lee said. “Rev. Schulte started the fund as a means to help people in our area in the event of an emergency.”

Lee said that each year the Allentown area Crop Walk helps to raise money for the Good Neighbor Fund.

“The fund collects 25 percent of the Crop Walk proceeds,” Lee said. “We also receive donations from local individuals, families, organizations and businesses.”

In an effort to help the Good Neighbor Network, local Boy Scouts will collect canned goods and nonperishable items on Nov. 12.

“If you receive a grocery bag from the Boy Scouts,” Duvin said, “please fill it and leave it on your doorstep on Nov. 12.

“The Boy Scouts will collect the items and deliver them to the food pantry,” she said.

The Upper Freehold Regional Elementary School Student Council will also sponsor a food drive.

Those who would like to contribute to the pantry or to the fund can drop off donations at the Allentown Presbyterian Church office weekdays between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.

For more information about the Good Neighbor Network and Pantry, call (732) 259-7289.