Published January 21. 2026 02:45PM
Despite below freezing temperatures Tuesday evening, a free community dinner brought dozens of residents from the Tamaqua and Panther Valley area.
More than 80 dinners were dished out just one hour into the two-hour event hosted at Hope & Coffee in Tamaqua.
All were invited to attend, regardless of need, and received spaghetti, meatballs, salad, dessert and drinks.
Community resources and information for those in need or who are housing insecure were also available.
The event was sponsored by St. Luke’s University Health Network, Schuylkill United Way, the Tamaqua Area Community Partnership’s Tamaqua Choose Happiness and Service Access Management.
Serving a free community dinner Tuesday evening from Hope & Coffee in Tamaqua are volunteers, from left, Doreen Milot, Schuylkill Intermediate Unit 29; Ann Ostergaard, Tamaqua Area Community Partnership; and Cheryl Carter, community member. JILL WHALEN/TIMES NEWS
Attendees of the free community dinner held Tuesday from Hope & Coffee in Tamaqua could learn about resources available from St. Luke’s University Health Network, New Roots Recovery Center and SYNC Recovery Community. Shown here, from left, are Kerri Quick, St. Luke’s; Kristen Welsh, volunteer; and Patty Rehrig, Sync Recovery Community. JILL WHALEN/TIMES NEWS