The Palmerton Food Pantry was in need of food donations.

The pantry made great strides in filling the cupboards over the weekend when it collected donations at Country Harvest Family Market along Delaware Avenue.

“This past month, we served 267 families; that’s 390 people, and just under 5,000 meals,” pantry volunteer Jim Murphy said.

“We also have a special ‘Senior Boxes’ program for people over aged 60,” said Karen Kaiser of Palmerton, a volunteer with the pantry. “It’s separate from the regular food distribution. You need to register ahead of time and meet certain income guidelines. It is a federal program. We have so many people that don’t come but should.”

Susie Arner, event organizer, said that Stoney Ridge Septic Service donated a whole grocery order.

Arner said that Country Harvest Family Market also did a one-hour match on canned goods Saturday afternoon. She said it was 96 cans, and that Country Harvest also provided 96 cans as part of the match.

“Some sizable cash donations came in from residents within the community which will be applied toward more food moving forward as we need it,” Arner said.

Arner estimated that roughly 2,000 to 2,500 pounds of food was collected.

The Senior Boxes distribution is from 10 a.m. to noon on the second Friday of each month.

The regular Palmerton Food Pantry hours are from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the second Saturday and the fourth Friday of each month.

The Pantry is at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Fireline Road, Palmerton.

For more information, call 570-236-8694 or email: getfood@palmertonpantry.org.