New Bethany will use the money to fund nutritious food access programming.
BETHLEHEM, Pa. (February 27, 2025) – New Bethany, a local nonprofit that provides nutritious food access, housing, and social services to under-resourced communities, received a $10,000 grant from the Martin Guitar Charitable Foundation to fund New Bethany’s nutritious food access programs, which are run through the Southside Drop-in Center and Choice Food Pantry.
“Thanks to the incredible generosity of the Martin Guitar Charitable Foundation, we can expand our reach and provide even more families with the nutritious food they need,” said New Bethany’s Executive Director Marc Rittle. “By ensuring our community members have access to healthy food, we’re not just alleviating hunger – we’re empowering people to lead fuller, more fulfilling lives.”
New Bethany recently celebrated the reopening of the Choice Food Pantry in October 2024. In providing a grocery store-like experience, guests have access to healthy and fresh food options through New Bethany. The Drop-in Center serves a hot breakfast and lunch prepared by various volunteer teams each day.
In 2024, the Drop-in Center provided 2,716 showers, offered case management to 200 people and served nearly 40,000 hot meals to over 1,000 community members. The Choice Food Pantry distributed nutritious groceries that equate to almost 230,000 meals for 2,565 individuals. The pantry received and distributed over 100,000 lbs of donated food from grocery stores, local food drives, individual donations and area farms.
New Bethany’s food access programs positively influence the community by reducing food insecurity in Lehigh Valley, and the Martin Guitar Charitable Foundation has long supported New Bethany’s work in the community.
For more information on New Bethany, visit www.newbethany.org.
About New Bethany
New Bethany offers hope and support to neighbors who experience poverty, food insecurity, and homelessness. They believe that all people, regardless of circumstances, should be treated with dignity and care without judgment. No one who seeks help is turned away. New Bethany meets
people where they are by offering wraparound services designed to remove barriers and assist individuals and families in reaching self-sufficiency. It starts with a meal and other street-level human services, including showers, laundry services, mailing address, and access to their Choice Food Pantry, and continues with housing assistance, job search support and tools, and case management. To learn more about New Bethany, find them on Facebook @NewBethanyLV or visit them on the web at www.newbethany.org.
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