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Food Assistance

City Supports Service Delivery through funding sources:

  • The City of Bethlehem allocated $204,118 from the Community Recovery Fund towards Food Assistance implementation. 
  • Lehigh Conference of Churches: The Conference Bethlehem Soup Kitchen provides 60-80 meals a day and assists 30 people from local encampments with case management and outreach services such as mail services, transportation assistance, material goods, and direction to mental health and substance abuse treatment providers.
  • Second Harvest Food Bank: Through the Shared Maintenance Fee and access to the Bulk Purchasing Program, Second Harvest will enable the 16 pantries in Bethlehem to provide more food to 7,900 Bethlehem residents monthly. 

City Collaborates and strategizes with service providers:

  • Fountain Hill Food Pantry: In 2023, the City granted the non-profit Fountain Hill Community Grocery Partnership (FHCGP) non-CDBG funding to create and operate a new food pantry facility located on-site at the Fountain Hill Elementary School to support food-insecure children and families in the surrounding community. Created in 2021 with formal operations starting in March 2022, the FHCGP developed from a joint effort of Fountain Hill Elementary School, Cathedral Church of the Nativity in South Bethlehem, Lehigh University, and the Bethlehem Area School District (BASD). Second Harvest Food Bank of the Lehigh Valley and Northeast Pennsylvania is an important partner. The funds from the City of Bethlehem will be used to help construct and equip the FHCGP food pantry facility. City of Bethlehem residents that suffer from food insecurity and meet state and federal eligibility requirements to receive food from Second Harvest Food Bank will benefit significantly from the creation and operation of the food pantry.

Click here for information about the Fountain Hill Food Pantry.

  • The Hispanic Center Lehigh Valley (HCLV) Food Pantry. In 2022, the City granted HCLV Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to support its food pantry public service. During the period of April 1, 2023 through June 30, 2023, the food pantry served a total of 248 households, or 787 individuals, which includes 277 children, 391 adults, and 119 seniors. In 2019, the City granted CDBG funds to renovate the food pantry. The Hispanic Center Lehigh Valley (HCLV) Food Pantry provides emergency food services to low- to moderate-income individuals residing in Northampton County, with a focus on the HCLV target area of Southside Bethlehem and the Marvine/Pembroke area. Utilizing a client choice model, clients receive a three-day supply of food, including fresh fruits and vegetables, meat, and culturally-appropriate dry and canned goods. The food pantry is working closely with community partners to expand its aisle of culturally appropriate food. Thanks to a partnership with Sam’s Club, the Food Pantry receives weekly donations of approximately 2,000 lbs. of fresh fruits and vegetables and meat to supplement existing pantry items. The Food Pantry is available five days a week for 30-minute appointments, where clients can “shop” for products with assistance from staff. In early 2022, HCLV’s food pantry was renovated to include a clothing closet, which includes items such as new shoes and school supplies, as well as new refrigerators and a freezer. The Food Pantry is managed by the food pantry coordinator with support from a wide range of volunteers.

Click here for information about the Hispanic Center Lehigh Valley Food Pantry.

  • Bethlehem Food Co-op Community Grocery Store: In 2021, the City supported the community-owned grocery store with a CDBG grant to assist them in planning their facility and future operations. In 2022, the City obtained a federal Community Project Funding passthrough grant for the coop to assist in their store build-out and initial opening.

Click here for information about the Bethlehem Food Co-op Grocery Store.

  • Kellyn Foundation Fresh Food Mobile Market (Neighborhood Immersion Strategy): The City has supported Kellyn’s low-and moderate income healthy food voucher program in food-insecure City neighborhoods. Among other services, Kellyn provides food vouchers for fresh produce and healthy meals to families in low-resource neighborhoods in the City of Bethlehem via their Eat Real Food Mobile Market. Since May 2021, this program has served more than 4,000 City residents. Kellyn’s primary focus with the voucher program is households at the extremely low, very low and low income levels. The Kellyn Foundation is a non-profit with a mission to develop, support, facilitate and implement programs that encourage family and community physical and emotional wellness. Kellyn focuses on healthy lifestyles with positive outcomes that can be sustained and taught to future generations, while helping to reduce the individual, family, community and national chronic disease burden.

Click here for information about the Kellyn Foundation Fresh Food Mobile Market.

  • New Bethany Choice Pantry: The City of Bethlehem has supported New Bethany’s Choice Food Pantry with CDBG funds in recent years. In 2022, New Bethany distributed nutritious groceries to over 800 (706 from Bethlehem) households experiencing food insecurity through Choice Pantry. New Bethany’s pantry provides a three-day supply of nutritious food each month (including fresh produce, perishable proteins, and fresh dairy) to neighbors experiencing food insecurity. Neighbors select their groceries in accordance with their preferences and cultural and/or religious needs. New Bethany also provides nutritional information and referrals to its services and those of its community partners. New Bethany’s Choice Food Pantry serves anyone who needs food, but over 90% of households served come from the City of Bethlehem. In particular, the low-income census tracts surrounding New Bethany (tracts 109, 110, 111, and 112), Marvine/Pembroke (tract 105), and the low-income section of the 18018 zip code (tracts 108, 107, 106.2). Each year, New Bethany serves 190,000 meals to 1,400 people (nearly half of whom are children or seniors) through its Choice Food Pantry. The pantry is member agency of Second Harvest Food Bank of the Lehigh Valley and Northeast Pennsylvania. The pantry has developed relationships with local farms and grocery stores to ensure it has a regular and varied supply of fresh, nutritious food (this include Halal meats, gluten-free alternatives, and vegan foods).

Click here for information about the New Bethany Choice Pantry.

  • New Bethany Trinity Soup Kitchen: The City of Bethlehem has supported New Bethany’s Trinity Soup Kitchen with CDBG funds in recent years. In 2022, Trinity Kitchen served nearly 18,000 hot, nutritious meals to people experiencing food insecurity. Trinity Kitchen serves people experiencing food insecurity and poverty with a daily hot, nutritious meal and access to services designed to help them stabilize their lives. Trinity Kitchen has been an operating program since fall 2021. Neighbors visiting Trinity are referred to Mollard Hospitality Center to have access to showers, laundry services, a mailing address, clothing, shoes, and toiletries. In addition, they are connected to housing assistance, job search support and tools, and case management; access to Lehigh Valley Health Partners Street Medicine Team is also available. New Bethany’s Trinity Kitchen serves anyone who needs food, but over 85% of people who get meals from Trinity come from the City of Bethlehem. In particular, the low/moderate census tracts of 108, 107, 106.2 and 95. These low/moderate North Bethlehem census tracts that surround Trinity Kitchen (located in Census Tract 108) have some of the most expensive homes in Bethlehem while also having high rates of poverty rates (especially for seniors – nearly 24% in Census Tract 108) and low median household incomes (which range from $33,734-$57,500, compared to Northampton County at $73,088). A high percentage of neighbors who come to Trinity Kitchen are low-income seniors and people experiencing homelessness from the camps near Illick's Mill and along the D&L Trail.

Click here for information about the New Bethany Trinity Soup Kitchen.

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