Groceries PLUS Food Bank

12/13/2025

Here's a link to our current needs for Dec 2025 & Jan 2026. Thank you in advance for taking a look.

12/11/2025

The extreme food insecurity crisis of November 2025 is behind us (Phew!). However, the underlying challenges remain. Please consider what you can do for your local food bank this holiday season to support them as they, in turn, support our neighbors who struggle with food.

Personal story: I noticed a woman in the parking lot of our food pantry last week. It was a snowy day and the parking lot was slushy. She got out of her car, but seemed trapped there. She was just clinging to the door handle. I walked over to offer her a steadying arm. As we walked (slowly) across the slush, she said to me, "I don't go out on snowy days. I might fall. You know, if I fall, I will break something and I can't do that. But I NEEDED the food.

I ask you: When was the last time you had to be so brave???

11/13/2025

Too busy to shop for Groceries PLUS? Check out our Amazon wish list, now aligned with our December list of current needs.

11/05/2025

(November 5) We had an amazing day at the food pantry yesterday. My fitbit says I walked 3.5 miles; receiving donations, setting up our Thanksgiving gift station with whole turkeys, turkey breasts and the makings for seven side dishes, and then offering those to our guests. About 40 households came through the pantry, ranging in family size from one to 11 people. Everyone came away with an abundant supply of regular food plus a holiday feast. There were two or three first-time visitors.

Today, our roster has closer to 50 households, with about 8 new ones.

We saw tears of joy and received hugs and heart-felt gratitude from our guests.

As of this morning, the community support is keeping up with the need. This alone is simply amazing!

However, the highlight of the day for me happened as I was helping a newcomer get oriented. As we talked, one of the guests came over, someone who was waiting her turn to go through the pantry. She overheard our conversation and asked if she could offer a small financial gift to the newcomer, to help him through his hard time.

Brings tears to my eyes, even as I type that.

Many are doing their parts to get us through this. If you have read this far, you are probably one of those: listening for needs and lending a hand. Thank you!

If you haven't found a way to help, all of you have neighbors who might welcome a listening ear and most of you have a pantry nearby that could use your help. Almost all of those turkeys, turkey breasts and sides were purchased with donated funds.

This post is sharable (I think), so please feel free to spread the word.

Be encouraged.

Ask for help as you needed it.

Look for ways to help those around you.

10/31/2025

(as of Oct. 31) As you can imagine, we are seeing an increase in interest in our pantry from neighbors in need. What you might not expect is that we are also seeing donors step up to help. Praise God!

If you are in need, you can call us (610 965 2682 ext. 1) for an appointment.

If you are interested in helping us meet these needs, here's what you can do.

If you are shopping, we can especially use:

• Meaty soups (Campbell's chunky, Progressive)
• Canned ham, canned luncheon meat
• Canned pineapple, canned applesauce
• Rolled oats (in cylinder box, not so much packets right now)

("Lots" of a single item are easier to shelve than "one of each".)

However, we can use almost any non-perishable foods, as long as they are within their "best by" date.

We can receive donations Mondays to Wednesdays from 9 pm to 4 pm. If you enter Bethel Church (418 Elm Street, Emmaus) by the ramp door off Warren Street, you'll see a silver cart for donations.

We have had a very busy week shopping for the pantry, as we prepare to distribute food next Tuesday and Wednesday (11/4, 11/5). We would be grateful to receive financial gifts (money or grocery-store gift cards) to use to buy food. Please give any financial gifts to the office staff at Bethel Church.

Thanks for your care and concern for our neighbors!

09/05/2025

We can always use:
Gift cards from Aldi, Giant, Wegmans or Weis
(which we use to buy food)
Any non-perishable food within its “use by/best by” date

Donations may be dropped off at Bethel Bible Fellowship Church, 418 Elm Street, Emmaus, PA; Monday-Wednesday, 9-4.

Send a message to learn more

09/05/2025

Current needs for September, 2025
• Canned Mandarin oranges
• Crackers, such as saltines, Triscuits, wheat thins, Chees-its, etc.; (10 - 16 oz boxes)
• Ketchup, BBQ sauce (plastic bottles)
• Deodorant
• Napkins (small or medium packages)

Donations may be dropped off at Bethel Bible Fellowship Church, 418 Elm Street, Emmaus, PA; Monday-Wednesday, 9-4.

Send a message to learn more