Various Tamaqua area churches and civic organizations are once again doing their part to combat hunger.

But there's only so much they can do alone, which is why they're asking for help to raise money and collect food.The third annual Hunger Walk, a joint effort between the Tamaqua Area Faith Fellowship Network and the Tamaqua Area Community Partnership, will be held on May 15 in the borough.Registration for the event will be held that day at 1:30 p.m. The walk will be held at 2 p.m. The rain date is May 22.The event will start in the St. Luke's Medical Center parking lot on South Railroad Street, continue about a mile east on Broad Street, and loop back to St. Luke's.After the walk, there will be an ice cream get-together at the Zion Lutheran Church. Ice cream will be provided to those who take part in the walk.The Hunger Walk itself is far from the only activity planned for Hunger Weekend, according to event organizer Paul Dodson, who represents both the TAFFN and the TACP.Dodson said that on May 14, a soup tasting project will be held at the Zion Lutheran Church.Hunger Walk volunteers will be on hand at Boyer's Market May 6-7 to collect food and make donations to the Hunger Walk.The purpose of the events, Dodson said, is to collect food and ask people to donate money to the three food banks in Tamaqua: Trinity United Church of Christ, Primitive Methodist Church, and the Salvation Army."The thing that we're trying to do is get organizations to come up with a project that they can raise money for the three food banks," Dodson said. "Our problem is we need businesses and organizations to step up and do projects on their own to raise money or collect food for the three food banks."Letters will be sent out to businesses and organizations asking them to make monetary donations; to get sponsors and walk in the Hunger Walk; and to ask people to collect food that would be donated to the three food pantries for distribution to anyone living in the Tamaqua Area School District, he said."We have a tremendous need in our community," Dodson said. "About 47 percent of the children in the Tamaqua Area School District are receiving free or reduced price lunches at school and the three food pantries in town serve over 200 families."Dodson said, "We welcome walkers and their pledges, but are also looking for volunteers to help now to ensure success later. If you have an idea for an event, please let us know."Last year's Hunger Walk raised $3,597, and collected 48 boxes of food that were distributed among the borough's three food banks.To participate in any of the activities, or make donations, contact 570-668-0289.Kathy Kunkel contributed to this report.