A monthly food pantry is the latest joint effort by St. Luke’s University Health Network’s Adopt-A-School Program and Panther Valley School District to meet families’ needs beyond just education.

“We want our students to have all the things they need to be successful,” said Panther Valley Superintendent David McAndrew Jr.

St. Luke’s and the school district have partnered to distribute healthy food - perishable and non-perishable from Panther Valley Elementary School in Nesquehoning. The pantry takes place today from 4-7 p.m. and the third Wednesday of each month.

Recipients don’t have to live in the district but they must complete a form showing they meet income guidelines for the Emergency Food Assistance Program. Forms are available at the patnry, at www.panthervalley.org/adopt-a-school/food_pantry, or on Facebook at “Panther Valley Community Food Pantry.”

The adopt-a-school program and the district look at school as a hub of health and wellness in the community. One aspect of that is access to healthy food.

“The food pantry addresses the needs of students and their families on a consistent basis,” said Kerri Quick, Community Health Liaison for St. Luke’s Miners Campus and Geisinger St. Luke’s.

Alleviating food insecurity also helps students’ mental health, Quick said.

Even before the pandemic, nearly one-quarter of Lansford and Coaldale residents used Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. The national average is 13.2%. Every student in Panther Valley School District can receive free school breakfast and lunch because of a federal program for district where at least 4% of students meet the income requirement for the free lunch program.

During the pandemic, the district could provide lunches to families during the summer. But with federal funding for that program coming to an end this month, families can no longer depend on the meals. That makes the pantry even more important.

“It’s something we definitely know we need in this area,” McAndrew said.

Panther Valley provides the venue to hold the monthly food pantry distribution and space to store the pantry’s food. The district also used grant funds to purchase a refrigerator for the pantry to store perishable foods and beverages.

St. Luke’s manages ordering the food and beverages, which it does through Second Harvest.

Other partners include Grace Community Church of Lansford, the Carbon County Community Foundation, private donors, and a group of volunteers.

“This is a true partnership where good organizations and good people come together to offer resources, expertise, time and talent to help those in our community who need assistance,” Quick said.

For more information about the St. Luke’s University Health Network’s Adopt a School Program, visit www.slhn.org/community-health/initiatives/adopt-a-school-initiative.