Shepherd House Inc. held a food pantry on Saturday at Memorial Park for the households that needed a little help in the Jim Thorpe Area School District.

Shepherd House runs a total of nine food pantries in Carbon County, including Lansford, Lehighton, Nesquehoning and Summit Hill.

Executive Director Stanley Haupt said the organization opened its doors near the end of November in 1983. Before the opening of Shepherd House, there were food pantries that operated on smaller scales in the area. By opening up and combining all of the pantries, federal and state funding was available to them.

The food pantry in Jim Thorpe was previously held in Ebenezer Evangelical Congregational Church but had to find a bigger venue due to increased interest from locals. Since the need for food went up, due to layoffs because of COVID-19, the Memorial Park venue better fit the community’s needs.

Second Harvest provides the majority of the food the pantry receives, however, donations have also come from smaller companies and individuals. If needed, the pantry will take a drive to the Jim Thorpe Market for special items.

“The whole country has been going through a lot,” volunteer Kathy Moyer said. “So, this is a good way to help the community.”

Moyer began volunteering after COVID-19 became a worldwide pandemic. She said she had some free time and wanted to give back to her community.

Pam Moore, coordinator for Shepherd House, said her volunteers are very good at doing the tasks asked of them.

The May Pantry Report reveals that Jim Thorpe served 174 households, which adds up to 549 people fed in Jim Thorpe alone.

Although numbers for the June pantry are expected to show fewer people, the pantry for Jim Thorpe will be held at Memorial Park until further notice, in case more people need help.