Tamaqua Mayor Nathan Gerace has issued a proclamation naming October as Tamaqua Hunger Campaign Month.

The ninth annual campaign will take place during the entire month of October, culminating with an Empty Bowl soup distribution on Oct. 30 and an in-person Hunger Walk on Oct. 31.

The campaign is sponsored by the Tamaqua Area Faith Fellowship Network. Gerace reads the proclamation on the TAFFN Facebook page.

The campaign benefits community food pantries at American Primitive Methodist Church and Trinity United Church of Christ. Last year’s virtual event raised just over $9,000 for the pantries.

This year’s goal is $10,000 and 150 boxes of food.

The 2021 campaign has many moving parts including sponsorships, virtual walkers, canned and dry good food collections, an online Empty Bowl soup sale and an in-person community walk.

Campaign sponsorships are being sought from area businesses and organizations.

Virtual walkers are asked to register on the campaign’s Network for Good page (https://tacp.networkforgood.com/projects/125937-2021-tamaqua-hungry-campaign) and ask friends and family to support them through donations. Walkers are asked to post video of their walks.

Organizations collecting food can register with Paul Dodson at 579-668-0289.

Campaign organizers plan to have 200 quarts of soup available for sale online beginning today. Churches have been contacted regarding making a soup for the sale. The soups will be distributed from a central location Oct. 30.

People purchasing a quart of soup will also get a chance to win one of several $25 gift certificates to Tamaqua area restaurants. They may also select a handcrafted bowl while supplies last at the soup distribution.

In the past, restaurants provided the soups for the Empty Bowl dinner, but campaign organizers were concerned that local restaurants are still recovering economically from the pandemic. Instead of providing soups this year, restaurants are being asked to host a “Dine Out Against Hunger” day on Oct. 27 and donate some of the proceeds to the campaign.

The hunger campaign is a project of the Tamaqua Area Faith Fellowship Network, an organization of lay leaders from area churches, which operates under the umbrella of the Tamaqua Area Community Partnership.

Key dates

Oct. 1-31: Tamaqua Hunger Campaign 2021 to raise at least $10,000 for Tamaqua’s food pantries to fight hunger in our community.

Food collections all month long.

Individual and organization virtual walks on social media.

Oct. 24: Last day to order Empty Bowl Soup Sale Tickets.

Oct. 27: Dine-out event at local restaurants to support Tamaqua Hunger Campaign.

Oct. 30: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., pick up Empty Bowl Dinner Soup.

Oct. 31: 2 p.m., Hunger Walk starting at the Tamaqua Community Arts Center.