May is usually the time of year the Tamaqua Area Faith Fellowship Network sponsors its annual Hunger Campaign, but the pandemic has again caused some changes.

TAFFN observed a Virtual Hunger Campaign in October, and announced that it would be moved to the fall in 2021.

As in the past, all funds raised or food collected benefit Tamaqua food banks.

October plans

TAFFN is going to promote a monthlong Hunger Campaign with both virtual and in-person walks.

The month will start with at least 10 virtual walkers reporting on their walks through video postings on Facebook and collecting contributions.

The month will end with an in-person walk and celebrate the efforts of all those who participated in the campaign.

Empty bowl event

TAFFN expects that it will most likely forgo an in-person empty bowl dinner. In its place, it is planning an empty bowl soup sale and raffle.

Instead of asking local restaurants to donate soups, the group plans to ask the churches in the Tamaqua area to make soups that will be sold by the quart.

In addition to the soup sale, raffle tickets for gift certificates to many Tamaqua area restaurants will be available. And every quart of soup sold will com with a raffle ticket.

TAFFN plans to have a table at the Fall Festival to offer both soups and tickets.

Dine out for hunger

The Wheel will host a Dine Out for the Tamaqua Hunger Campaign from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. on May 25. A portion of the sales will go to the Hunger Campaign.

A spokesperson from the Wheel said, “Giveback sales will include all dine-in, takeout and delivery. We anticipate higher than normal volume on these days because of the support you will receive, so please inform your group that reservations are requested and if ordering takeout or delivery, we recommend ordering online a few hours prior to the time you are requesting. They can do so at wheelrestaurants.com.”

What you need to do now

1. Plan to become a virtual or in-person walker and begin to line up sponsors.

2. Step up and become a sponsor of the Hunger Campaign. Paul Dodson will have more information to come.

3. Begin talking with church members and commit to making 20 to 25 quarts of soup for sale during October. TAFFN would like to see a wide variety of soups. Soup types will be reserved on a first come, first served basis.

4. Plan to attend a special Dine Out for the Tamaqua Hunger Campaign benefit at the Wheel in downtown from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. TAFFN will get a percentage of sales that day.

For more information, contact Paul Dodson at 570-668-0289, dodsonp18252@gmail.com or George Taylor, 570-668-4451 or gtay200@verizon.net.