The 14th annual Tamaqua Community Hunger Campaign begins Tuesday, Oct. 1, launching a month-long effort to provide critical support for the borough’s four food pantries.
The campaign, organized by the Tamaqua Area Faith Fellowship Network (TAFFN) and the Tamaqua Area Community Partnership, seeks to raise funds and collect food donations at a time when food insecurity remains a pressing issue. Each month, the four pantries collectively serve more than 700 families in the Tamaqua area.
The benefiting pantries include the American Primitive Methodist Church, which holds two regular distributions; Trinity United Church of Christ and Stokes Ministries, which provide food when contacted; and Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, which operates its 24/7 People’s Pantry kiosk.
Last year’s campaign raised $18,000 for the four pantries and distributed 125 boxes and bags of food. Organizers hope to meet and surpass those totals this year. “Hunger is still a reality in Tamaqua, and every effort counts,” planners said in announcing this year’s events.
Several community favorites return for 2025, including:
- Community Soup Sale – Quarts of soup prepared and donated by local churches and restaurants will be available for order beginning Oct. 6 online and at the Tamaqua Heritage Festival on Oct. 12. Soup pickup will be held Saturday, Oct. 25, at St. John XXIII Catholic Church’s social hall on Pine Street.
- Dine Out Against Hunger Days – Participating restaurants will donate a portion of their proceeds on Oct. 29 or Oct. 30.
- Tamaqua Community Hunger Walk – The campaign concludes Sunday, Nov. 2, with the Hunger Walk starting at 2 p.m. at the Tamaqua Community Arts Center. Registration opens at 1:30 p.m., and walkers are encouraged to seek sponsors.
- Harmonies for Hunger – A benefit concert hosted by St. John’s Lutheran Church on Saturday, Oct. 11, at 6 p.m. featuring local performers including Waiting for Eyes (Kyle and Ryan Dunkelberger) and Steve and Maggie, formerly of Toolshed Jack Acoustic. Admission is by free-will offering, and food donations will be collected.
- Fast Week – From Oct. 12–18, residents are encouraged to skip one meal and donate the cost of that meal to the campaign through their church or directly to the program.
- Feed a Family Days – On Oct. 14 and Oct. 19, shoppers at Boyer’s Market can purchase discounted bags of food designed to stretch beyond their value. Volunteers will collect these donations on site.
Tamaqua Hunger Campaign, 125 Pine Street, Tamaqua, PA 18252.
More details, including online order forms and donation links, can be found by searching “Tamaqua Hunger Campaign” online.
TAFFN, a 501(c)(3) organization made up of lay leaders from area churches, coordinates the campaign under the umbrella of the Tamaqua Area Community Partnership.
Photo Caption: Tamaqua Mayor Nathan Gerace signs a proclamation designating October 2025 as Tamaqua Hunger Awareness Month. With Gerace are Tamaqua Community Hunger Campaign planners George Taylor and Judy Hoppes.