Tamaqua area residents can help fight hunger by simply enjoying a meal at a local restaurant this week as the Tamaqua Community Hunger Campaign presents its annual Dine Out Against Hunger Days.

The two-day event, scheduled for today and Thursday, brings together local eateries and community members for a common cause: helping ensure that area residents have access to food through four local church-related food pantries and one baby food ministry that all benefit from the monthlong campaign.

Participating restaurants will donate a portion of their proceeds on their designated day, allowing diners to enjoy a meal while contributing to hunger-relief efforts in the Tamaqua area.

Wednesday’s participating restaurants are Two Kings Pizzeria, Sisters Cantina, Tommy’s Italian Specialty Shop and Basile’s Italian Delight Restaurant. Thursday’s participants are Gimbels Restaurant and La Dolce Casa-Dimaggio’s.

George Taylor, a campaign volunteer, said the event offers an easy and enjoyable way for residents to make a difference close to home.

“Fighting hunger is something our entire community can be part of,” Taylor said. “By choosing to eat at one of the participating restaurants, people can enjoy a meal with family or friends while helping support neighbors who are struggling to put food on the table. Every contribution matters, and these restaurants are giving people another way to turn community spirit into meaningful action.”

Dan Odorizzi, another campaign volunteer, has been following up on invitation letters sent to more than 30 area eateries, encouraging them to participate in the campaign.

“The response from our local business community is an important part of what makes this campaign work,” Odorizzi said. “Our restaurants are an integral part of Tamaqua, and Dine Out Against Hunger gives them an opportunity to help address a need that affects people throughout our community. We appreciate every restaurant that has agreed to participate and hope residents will show their support by dining with them.”

The Dine Out Against Hunger Days follow the successful Feed A Family Days at Boyer’s Market, where residents donated 125 bags of groceries during a two-day collection. An additional $3,028 in monetary donations enabled campaign volunteers to buy 133 more cases of food for distribution to the pantries.

The events demonstrate how local businesses, volunteers and residents can work together to address food insecurity and strengthen the community.

The monthlong Tamaqua Community Hunger Campaign continues through the end of October, with additional activities including the Perla Building Fitness Center’s Zumbathon on Oct. 31, and the Great Community Soup Sale distribution that same day at St. John XXIII Roman Catholic Church. The campaign concludes with the 15th annual Tamaqua Area Hunger Walk on Nov. 1.

For information about the campaign and its activities, visit the Tamaqua Hunger Campaign at https://tamaquahunger.tacp.info or the Tamaqua Area Faith Fellowship Network’s Facebook page.