Feeding the Hungry in Schuylkill County

Posted September 25, 2024 in News

Catholic Charities is happy to announce that expanded food service for the hungry in Schuylkill County officially begins on September 30. Catholic Charities will continue its regular meals in Pottsville while offering additional food service in 10 other communities.

To us, that’s good news. Unfortunately, there has been some confusion and concern about this change. We understand that. We know change is not easy. After all, people have gotten used to coming to our former soup kitchen on Mahantongo Street in Pottsville.

Now, the location and schedule of that meal service will change. But what won’t change is the Catholic Charities commitment to serving the needy in Pottsville, throughout Schuylkill County, and all around the Diocese of Allentown.

Beginning in October, the former soup kitchen will close. Pottsville meals will be served three times per week from our Community Café food truck, parked on Mahantongo Street across from St. Patrick’s church. Service next week will be on September 30th, October 2nd and October 3rd from 4pm to 5pm. We’ll announce dates and times for future weeks well in advance so everyone can know when they can get a meal.

Why this change? Because people are hungry in other communities too!

Our expanded food truck meal service will now be available in 10 additional communities that have never before received meals from Catholic Charities. Watch for announcements about this new meal service in Ashland, Frackville, Mahanoy City, McAdoo, Minersville, New Philadelphia, Ringtown, Sheppton, Tamaqua, and Tremont.

So even though this change is difficult, we’re hoping that everyone will understand that we are doing our best to meet the need in Pottsville – and throughout the county – with the limited resources we have.

And speaking of resources, please let us take this opportunity to respond to some nasty and incorrect rumors about recent donations to Catholic Charities food operations. Here are the facts:

We received a generous donation of $100,000 in late 2021, and immediately invested that money in an endowment fund at the Catholic Foundation of Eastern Pennsylvania. Because it is an endowment fund, the money Catholic Charities earns on that investment will benefit food access in Schuylkill County well into the future.

We have been in contact with another donor who wants to support food operations, and if we do get that generous gift, Catholic Charities will honor the donor’s intent, as we always do.

Catholic Charities is very transparent about its operations – in Schuylkill County and everywhere. Every year, as is required of any charitable organization, we file a Form 990 with the federal government. It’s a clear explanation of our finances, and it’s easy to find that form online with a simple Google search.

Here’s the bottom line: The men and women at Catholic Charities, including our hard-working volunteers and staff and our generous donors, are doing their absolute best to serve the needs of our communities. That includes finding the best way to provide needed meals not only in Pottsville but throughout Schuylkill County.

We are proud of what Catholic Charities has done in Schuylkill County, and of what we will continue to do. We think if you look at the facts, and if you don’t listen to those rumor mongers with an ax to grind, you will agree. And if you like what you see, we invite you to join us – as a volunteer, as a donor, or as both. We invite you to help us continue to provide compassionate care for all.