Tammy Hoffman’s journey into volunteering began with a simple yet powerful desire to make a difference in her community.

A member of Peoples EC Church in Franklin Township, Hoffman’s pastor Ken Ogden wanted to start a pantry specifically for providing toiletries to SNAP (food stamp) eligible residents of Lehighton Area School District. Food stamps do not cover things like toilet paper, toothpaste, and toothbrushes.

The initiative to establish the Bare Necessities Pantry at St. Peter’s Community Resource Center, located along Main Road in Franklin Township, began in 2014. The center officially opened its doors in June 2016, and Hoffman’s role evolved over the years.

“I became the secretary of the board in 2018 and pantry coordinator in July of 2019,” Hoffman, said. “I wanted to support my church, but I also wanted to be able to reach out to our community as well.”

In addition to her work at St. Peter’s, Hoffman is part of a church family that places a high value on outreach. She has volunteered for various initiatives and projects, such as Family Promise, Fall Fest, Smores n More, and Weisstock.

At St. Peter’s, Hoffman has played a crucial role in securing grants and forming partnerships to benefit the community.

“I have been a part of forming partnerships with Lehigh Valley Health Network by having a doctor come to the pantry, partnering with the Rotary Club to provide donated food from Giant to our pantry, and partnering with Walmart for clothing donations that were then given away to the community for free,” she said.

Hoffman described her most rewarding experiences as not just about providing necessities; but also about building “real relationships” with members of the community.

For Hoffman, who works full-time as a speech therapist at Towamensing Elementary, managing time effectively while volunteering can be a challenge.

“It’s always hard because of how hectic life has become,” she said. “Find a group that you are passionate about and make the time spent volunteering a priority. Bring your family and friends along as well.”

In her opinion, one of the most pressing issues the community faces today is the impact of inflation, especially on those with limited budgets.

“Inflation is hurting society as a whole, especially with older people on budgets or families just not being able to make ends meet,” she said.

St. Peter’s, she said, has been proactive in addressing these challenges.

“St. Peter’s was fortunate to have a community resource specialist employed for all of 2022 because of receiving the Carbon County Community Foundation 20/20 Circle Grant. That person was in the center a set amount of hours a week to try and provide the community with various resources to meet their needs,” Hoffman said. “Thankfully, we continue to have a volunteer physically in the building 2-3 hours a week. We have also been able to increase the amount of food we have been receiving from Second Harvest Food Bank to be able to meet the ever-increasing number of people attending the pantry on a monthly basis.”

The pantry is open on the fourth Saturday of each month from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Hoffman encouraged anyone looking for volunteer opportunities to reach out to St. Peter’s at 484-464-4474.

To nominate a volunteer for the LVHN Neighborhood Spotlight, send an email to tneditor@tnonline.com