{"id":110375,"date":"2021-12-20T17:50:58","date_gmt":"2021-12-20T22:50:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/?p=110375"},"modified":"2021-12-20T17:50:58","modified_gmt":"2021-12-20T22:50:58","slug":"new-bethany-ministries-receives-grants-to-support-food-insecurity-initiatives","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/?p=110375","title":{"rendered":"New Bethany Ministries Receives Grants to Support Food Insecurity Initiatives"},"content":{"rendered":"

Local businesses, organizations, and foundations gift close to $70,000 to New Bethany\u2019s Mollard Hospitality Center and Choice Food Pantry.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

BETHLEHEM, PA (December 20, 2021) <\/strong>– New Bethany Ministries (NBM) was awarded grants from 12 local companies that directly benefit the Mollard Hospitality Center<\/u> <\/a>and Choice Food Pantry<\/u><\/a>. The contributions help fund services \u2013 including a food pantry, daily meals, showers, job search assistance, case management, mail address, laundry services, and more \u2013 that alleviate food insecurity and lead individuals and families to self-sufficiency.<\/p>\n

Since the beginning of Covid-19, food insecurity has increased substantially in the Lehigh Valley. Lehigh County experienced a jump from 10.0% in 2019 to 13.5% in 2020, and Northampton County reached 11.8% in 2020, a 3.2% growth. In the last year, New Bethany served 12,000 individuals, approximately 3,000 more than pre-pandemic records show.<\/p>\n

\u201cDue to the Covid-19 pandemic, many found themselves unemployed and unable to afford basic necessities in life, including the ability to feed their family,\u201d said Verrone Demesyeux, Associate Executive Director, New Bethany Ministries. \u201cNew Bethany is extremely thankful for the generosity from businesses around the Lehigh Valley for their support as we continue to combat hunger in our community.\u201d<\/p>\n

The following organizations provided key donations:<\/p>\n