A lack of funding threatened to derail a summer lunch program in Lansford, but thanks to volunteers and donors, lunch will be served on Monday.

One out of three children living in Panther Valley school district live below the poverty line, and many families rely on food pantries on a regular basis.

So there was concern this year after a summer lunch program that operates at four sites in the Panther Valley did not open. While three of those sites remain closed, lunches will be available at the Lansford Townhouses, where the program served the most children.

“We are going to get it rolling on Monday. We’re going to go to what we can. When the money runs out, it runs out. We’ll do all that we can do,” said Frank Tongue, a volunteer who serves lunches at the Lansford Townhouses.

Tongue said as many as 50 kids will show up each day at the town houses for lunch during the summer. He started volunteering to help about three years ago, and there are a loyal group of volunteers.

“I just don’t want to see them go without. These kids are used to having a lunch,” Tongue said. At least they get something in their stomach, and it gives their parents an hour of free time.”

For the past three years, the program was funded by the Department of Education’s Summer Food Service Program and sponsored by the Summit Hill Heritage Center. But in order to get reimbursed by the state, the Heritage Center, as the program’s sponsor, needed to put up $3,500.

Heritage Center board Vice President David Wargo said the organization was regretful that it could not provide the lunch program due to a lack of funding.

“We were pleased to provide that service, and it’s unfortunate that we can’t do it this year,” Wargo said.

It left the lunch program at Meed’s United Methodist Church in Nesquehoning as the only lunch program available in the borough.

Tongue said he heard from the Heritage Center a few weeks before school ended that they would no longer be sponsoring the program. Tongue said it was a surprise, because he was already being approached by students who were looking forward to the program. He said the kids who attend the program are good kids, not only from the town homes but around Lansford. They clean up after each other, and obey the rules of the lunch program.

Tammy Anthony, property manager of the Lansford Townhomes, said it was difficult to have to tell children that the program wouldn’t be available.

“Tenants have come over asking when the lunch program is starting. You can just see the shock on their face like ‘what can I do now?’ ”

The impact of the lunch program may be affecting other organizations. Some food pantries have seen more requests from families this summer.

After Tongue heard about the lack of funding, He immediately started trying to raise money. He said that the churches in Summit Hill, with assistance from the Heritage Center, came up with $300 for the town homes. Tongue said all the money will go right to the program, there are not plans to seek reimbursement from the state right now.

He said he is meeting with volunteers on Friday, and expects that lunch will be served on Monday at the townhomes, as well as the heritage center.

“We’re going to have a go at it,” he said.

The other three sites, in Lansford, Coaldale and Summit Hill, will remain closed. Wargo said discussions about getting them reopened are still in the early stages.

Donations and volunteers are still being welcomed for the program. Donations can be dropped off at the Heritage Center. Volunteers, as well as any children interested in the program, can visit the community room at the townhomes, 11 a.m.-noon, starting on Monday.