Area Organizations Offer Free Thanksgiving Holiday Meals, Food Donations
News Release: Nov. 3, 2009
Contact: Janice Osborne, Director-Communications and Marketing
American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley
(610) 865-4400, ext. 262; pager (610) 830-9771


Valley Wide Help, an information and referral service of the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley, has compiled a list of area agencies and organizations offering assistance to families this Thanksgiving holiday in the greater Lehigh Valley. For the most up-to-date information, call Red Cross Valley Wide Help at 610-435-7111. This information is also available online at www.redcrosslv.org/vwh.html.

Thanksgiving holiday meals are available at these locations and days:

Allentown

Bethany Evangelical Congregational Church (Everlasting Life Ministries), 224 North Sixth Street, Allentown; 610-776-4009; Saturday, Nov. 21, at 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Volunteers are needed to serve meals. Volunteers asked to arrive by 11 a.m. for 12:30 p.m. seating and by 2:30 p.m. for 3:30 p.m. seating). Also needed are baked goods, cooked turkeys in disposable tins and money.

Ecumenical Soup Kitchen/Catholic Charities, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, 179 Chew Street, Allentown; 610-435-1541; Friday, Nov. 27, from 1:30-2:30 p.m.

New Generation Day Care, 712 West Linden Street (side entrance), Allentown; 610-434-2456; Wednesday, Nov. 25 at 5:30 p.m.

St. James A.M.E. Zion Church, 410 Union Street, Allentown; 610-439-9408; Saturday, Nov. 21, from noon-3 p.m. (Doors open at 11:30 a.m.)

St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Fellowship Hall, 36 South Eighth Street, Allentown; 610-435-9065; Thanksgiving Day from 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.; Blankets to be distributed.

St. Stephen's Lutheran Church, 1421 West Turner Street, Allentown; 610-439-8821; Thanksgiving Day services at 10 a.m.; dinner from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.


Bethlehem

New Bethany Ministries, Mollard Hospitality Center, 337 West Fourth Street, Bethlehem; 610-691-5602; Thanksgiving Day from noon-1 p.m.; prayers at 11:30 a.m.

Trinity SK, 44 East Market Street, Bethlehem; 610-867-4741; Thanksgiving Day from noon-1 p.m. for residents of Bethlehem's north side.


Easton

Trinity Episcopal Church, 610-253-0792; Saturday, Nov. 21, from noon-1 p.m., at the Third Street Alliance for Women and Children, 41 North Third Street, Easton. (Please use front Third Street door; no reservations required.)


Carbon County

Faith Alive United Methodist Church, 678 Pine Street, Palmerton; 610-852-2805; Saturday, Nov. 21, from 1-3 p.m. (Doors open at 12:30 p.m.); Transportation available for Carbon County residents. Call 610-852-2716, 610-377-1471 or 570-386-5586 to reserve ride.

St. John's Episcopal Church, 365 Lafayette Avenue, Palmerton; 610-826-2611; Thanksgiving Day from noon-2 p.m.

St. Mark's Episcopal Church, 21 Race Street, Jim Thorpe; 570-325-2241; Sunday, Nov. 22, from 4-6 p.m.

Tamaqua Salvation Army, 105 West Broad Street, Tamaqua; 570-668-0410; Thanksgiving Day from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.


Other Areas

St. John's United Church of Christ, 15 South Second Street, Slatington; 610-767-5554; Thanksgiving Day from noon-2 p.m.


Holiday food distribution is available at these locations and days:

City Limits Assembly of God, 302 Ridge Avenue, Allentown; 610-776-8656; Tuesday, Nov. 24 at 6 p.m.; Turkey and food bag distribution. Donations of turkeys needed.

Families First, 610-863-2263; Holiday food distribution for residents residing within the Pen Argyl School District. Donations of food and gift cards needed.

Northern Lehigh Food Bank, 610-767-9525; Saturday, Nov. 21, from 10 a.m.-noon; Holiday food distribution for residents residing within the Northern Lehigh School District and/or Upper Lehigh County areas such as New Tripoli and Germansville.


American Red Cross Valley Wide Help is a free information and referral service offering direct provision of information about social and human services. Trained information specialists use a comprehensive computerized database of nearly 1,000 referral sources to identify specific organizations that may be of assistance to area residents. Accessibility of information is ensured through the availability of six dedicated telephone numbers, bilingual services to Spanish-speaking callers and a text telephone system for the hearing impaired.

Calls to Valley Wide Help are answered Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. After 4:30 p.m. and on weekends, calls are answered through a voice mail system that offers a menu of referrals to address callers' needs in an emergency situation. For non-emergencies, the voice mail system offers callers the option of leaving a message and requesting a return call.

Valley Wide Help can be directly reached at: Allentown: (610) 435-7111; Bethlehem: (610) 691-8711; Easton: (610) 252-4357; Slate Belt: (610) 588-5512; Spanish: (610) 866-1089; TTY/TTD: (610) 866-0131.

The American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley serves residents of Carbon, Lehigh and Northampton counties. Last year the Red Cross provided preparedness and training, military personnel support, senior lifesaving programs and services, and emergency relief to more than 25,000 greater Lehigh Valley residents. For more information about the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley or volunteer opportunities, call (610) 865-4400 or visit www.redcrosslv.org.