In towns throughout America there are always those who go without a meal. Simply, no matter where you may live life sometimes has a way of interfering with your plans, you might lose your job, get sick or even have an unexpected car repair that makes you have to decide between eating or paying the bill.

Sometimes this is a temporary situation and sometimes it may last longer. It is good to know that there are many organizations, some run by governmental agencies, some run by church groups and some which are community-based, volunteer groups created just to make sure that families get the nutrition needed to get through the day and hopefully not go to bed hungry.Since the 1980s the Pleasant Valley Ecumenical Network has operated a food pantry in Brodheadsville. PVEN is a network of area churches that joined together in a cooperative effort to meet the needs of the people of the Western Pocono area of Monroe County. The PVEN community service center is located on 279 Greenview Drive in Brodheadsville.The PVEN center is open for food and clothing pickup on Tuesdays 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. However due to funding regulations, the PVEN food pantry is limited to how much food can be distributed from the center and how often families are allowed to access its services.In addition PVEN, which currently serves many of the West End's families, does not have the space to bring in greater quantities of food, despite its availability.In order to supplement what PVEN is able to do from the Brodheadsville location, PVEN has teamed up with Kunkletown resident Karena Thek to open the West End Food Pantry.The West End Food Pantry is located at the Eldred Township Community Center and will be open beginning this Saturday. The pantry will be open every first and third Saturday of the month from 9 a.m. to noon.The West End Food Pantry will be a self-selection pantry which will have a greater selection of products and will allow users to select the items they want."Being able to select the food yourself as opposed to the bags being prepacked for the family means that people with special needs, such as diabetes, will have nutritious foods that fit their needs," Thek said.Thek is excited about the new program and is taking full advantage of all the opportunities available to bring food to the pantry."With the new pantry, PVEN will be able to hand out more food more often and with fewer boundaries," Thek said. "Despite the fact that there is an overwhelming amount of food to be rescued, one in five families in Monroe County still struggle with food hardships."The location of the West End Food Pantry was well-thought-out. Its location on Kunkletown Road is close to three county lines, making it accessible to the surrounding area despite boundaries.Signing up for the food pantry is quick and easy. All you need is a photo ID and shopping bags. There is simple paperwork to complete. Income and hardship are self-reported; no one is turned away."Life events create higher needs," Thek said. "You could lose your job, have debt, illness or your property taxes might take a toll one month."Thek said the food pantry could use some help from community members."We need volunteers and we can always use financial donations to offset our insurance, rent and the cost of hauling food. For $30 you can sponsor a truckload of food."Donations are tax deductible and checks should be made out to PVEN and may be earmarked for the West End Food Pantry in the memo space.Residents and area groups can also help out by organizing food drives or donating folding tables or even just extra grocery bags.PVEN is hoping that with the new food pantry they will be able to provide three to five meals per week for some area families."We are here to help the hard working families of the area that just can't do it all on their own. There is no shame, no prejudice, just good people helping good people." Thek said.