Carbon County’s emergency food distribution is helping to feed hundreds of families during this time of need.

On Thursday, Commissioner Rocky Ahner, who has spearheaded the distribution with the help of Second Harvest, announced that for the first two distributions in Lehighton and Weatherly areas, a total of 680 emergency food boxes were given out. Boxes include nonperishable food items including pastas, canned vegetables and meats and cereals.

He thanked all the school districts and municipalities for working so well with the county, providing distribution locations and robocalls to inform residents of the upcoming distribution dates.

He said that there have also been 125 volunteers who have come out to help distribute the boxes at each location.

Ahner said the event started with five trucks filled with 12,000 pounds of food packed in 400 boxes in each vehicle. Three distributions remain: Palmerton, which was held today; and Jim Thorpe and Panther Valley areas, which will be held Saturday.

Ahner said that he expects the distribution will be able to hand out 1,300 boxes at the three remaining distribution locations.

The distributions are open to any Carbon County resident who is in need of food, and distributions were broken down into school districts so municipalities knew which location to go to.

On Saturday, the distribution is as follows:

• 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Panther Valley Middle School, 678 Panther Pride Drive, Lansford.

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

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.