The Palmerton Food Pantry will expand to include another day each month for distribution.

Joe Murphy, the new director of the Palmerton Food Pantry, said that the pantry has added one Saturday a month.

The first Saturday pickup will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. this Saturday at St. John Lutheran Church along Fireline Road.

“I want to double the amount of food we can give out to our customers each month coming right out of the gate,” Murphy said.

Murphy said he couldn’t ask for a better group of people to work with.

“We are very fortunate as St. John Lutheran Church, Pastor Ken, the council and the congregation as a whole, has been completely supportive and helpful,” he said. “They have given time and time again so the pantry can serve the community, and they continue to give.

“I believe if St. John’s had the world to give me to help the community, they would.”

Murphy said the pantry lacks the space needed to have customers walk through an area to shop for items they need.

“Like many pantries, we distribute boxes of food which are pre-packed by our amazing volunteers,” he said. “A family will drive in, and we place the food in their car for them.

“Some of the boxes can become very heavy and that limits how much we can give out safely. To increase the amount we can provide, we’ve added another distribution day.”

Murphy said that in addition to the second distribution day, the pantry has teamed up with the Walnutport Giant supermarket to begin a retail recovery project.

“Retail recovery allows us to receive a variety of foods from Giant that are getting close to expiration date, rather than Giant throwing them away,” he said. “There’s nothing wrong with the food, but they can no longer have it on their shelves.”

Murphy explained how the process works.

“Giant provides us with these items, and St. Johns has once again graciously allowed us to open their doors and invite the pantry’s customers to pick out fresh vegetables, fruits, berries ... fresh breads, rolls, bagels and bakery items such as cakes, pies, cookies, doughnuts, etc.,” he said. “We never know exactly what, or how much, we’re going to get, but one thing is certain; our customers are very happy and excited at what they receive.”

Murphy said that “in the first full week of the program, “we picked up, sorted and distributed just over 2000 pounds of food, and we’re just getting started.”

Pickup dates for the year are as follows:

• Fridays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Feb. 24, March 24, April 28, May 26, June 23, July 28, Aug. 25, Sept. 22, Oct. 27, Nov. 17, and Dec. 15.

• Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Feb. 11, March 11, April 8, May 13, June 10, July 8, Aug. 12, Sept. 9, Oct. 14, Nov. 11, and Dec. 9.