Two area programs aiming to feed both veterans and kids in the community are off to a great start this holiday season because of a recent food drive at Towamensing Elementary in the Palmerton Area School District.

Towamensing’s “Student Lighthouse” team sponsored a weeklong food drive for the VALOR Clinic Foundation and the Micah’s Meals for Kids program run through Faith Alive Church in Bowmanstown.

“The students collected stuffing and gravy as well as cake mix and frosting for Valor, which they will use for the Thanksgiving meals they provide, and Jell-O, applesauce, pudding cups and microwave popcorn for Micah’s Meals, which serves students in the Palmerton Area School District,” said Jodi Kocher, Towamensing Elementary guidance counselor and Student Lighthouse team adviser.

Collections were accepted during Red Ribbon Week at the school, which ran from Oct. 24-28.

The VALOR Clinic Foundation, based out of Jonas, serves about 900 meals between Thanksgiving and Christmas to area veterans and their families.

Micah’s Meals provides backpacks or bags filled with food to students in Palmerton’s elementary schools.

“This is the 11th year for that program and every week there are 35 bags of food distributed between the elementary schools,” Kocher said.