When word reached the staff at Pocono Medical Center of the great work that the West End Food Pantry was doing to serve the hungry families of Monroe County and the surrounding area they stepped up to lend a hand.

"We heard that families, some with small children and some elderly were waiting their turn to shop at the pantry in the gymnasium and they had no place to sit but the floor, we thought we could do something to help them," said Dawn Stout, EMS and transport services supervisor at PMC. "It is hard enough to be in the position to have this need, it doesn't have to be made harder by being made to wait sitting on the floor while waiting your turn."The hospital stepped up and donated the $5,500 to purchase 150 folding chairs and 25 tables and carriers for use by the pantry and the community center."We are so grateful to partner with Pocono Medical Center," said pantry director Karena Thek. "We are grateful for all of the help we get."Since it opened in November of last year the pantry has seen a steady rise in the number of families it serves each month.During the last distribution date the pantry served 173 families. There were 278 adults, 161 children and 87 senior citizens. Over the last two dates the pantry has served 50 new families. According to Thek this is only a small fraction of the hungry in Monroe County.The pantry purchased hot dogs for the holiday distribution.