Friday started off questionable with rain showers moving through the Lehighton area in the morning, but by the time 2:30 p.m. hit, volunteers had given out 380 boxes of nonperishable food to Lehighton area residents in need as part of an initiative to keep food on everyone’s tables.

Carbon County Commissioner Rocky Ahner, who has spearheaded the county emergency food distribution in each of the five county school districts over the next week, said overall, that it was a good day.

“I was worried about it with the rain (Friday) morning, but when we pulled up with the truck, there were already about 40 people there waiting,” he said. “It went really good.”

Ahner said that the distribution showed the need in the community during this trying time and was glad that the initiative, with the help of Second Harvest, was able to feed so many people today.

He hopes that the remaining distributions throughout the county will just as well.

The emergency food distribution will now travel to the remaining four area school districts for distribution to any resident in need in that school district over the next few days. Each location will have 400 emergency boxes available for distribution on a first come, first served basis.

The schedule for the upcoming distribution events is:

• Today: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Weatherly Area High School, 601 Sixth St. This distribution will also include the areas of Beaver Meadows and Tresckow.

• May 8: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Palmerton Area High School, 3525 Fireline Road.

• May 9: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Panther Valley Middle School, 678 Panther Pride Drive, Lansford. This distribution is open to residents in Nesquehoning, Summit Hill and Lansford.

• May 9: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Memorial Hall in Jim Thorpe, 101 E. 10th St.

The emergency food boxes that residents receive include items like pasta, vegetables, fruit, juice, some canned meats, cereal and other nonperishable foods, Ahner said.

The distribution is drive-thru, with residents pulling up to receive a box of food and it being placed in the trunk of your car by a volunteer.

Ahner said that the response for volunteers for each event has been overwhelming and was happy to have such support in each of the communities.

“I cannot say enough about the volunteers either,” he said. “They are tremendous.

“Hopefully the rest of the distributions will go as good.”