The Bo Tkach Under the Helmet and Hat Foundation wants to help people in need.

“Our board members are unanimous in their feelings that they want to assist the less fortunate” was how Jim Tkach, president, explained action taken by the foundation to assist eight area food pantries.

For the second time in as many months, the foundation has donated $1,000 to each of the food pantries in its area – Pamerton, Lehighton, Jim Thorpe, Summit Hill, Lansford, Nesquehoning, Northern Lehigh and Tamaqua.

“We have been fortunate with how people have supported our mission,” said Tkach, adding, “That has put us in a position to be able to give back. We also realize that during these tough times, people are under a lot of stress, and we’d like to help alleviate that, very similar to what our goal has always been – to help individuals who face stressful challenges in their lives.”

According to Bill O’Gurek, foundation treasurer, checks have been issued to the eight entities that help put food on the tables of those less fortunate. Combined with the donations made in March, the foundation has now made donations of $16,000 to help pantry organizers replenish their supplies.

Tkach, meanwhile, related reports the foundation members have received about the challenges people face today.

“I read an article that says people are calling the mental health line because they are concerned about what lies ahead of them with regard to feeding themselves and their families,” he said.

“We feel good about playing a meaningful role in assisting others,” said Ed Hedes, board member, who delivered the first $1,000 check to one of the pantries.

“The people who run the pantry were in tears of joy because they were running low in supplies at the time,” Hedes said.

He said that in addition to conducting the food distribution program, pantries often expend funds to help low income families pay their rent and other bills.

Fred Lesher Jr., another foundation board member, added, “More and more pantries are experiencing increased requests for food assistance. These are tough times for a lot of people; people are furloughed from their jobs; and others just don’t have the resources to assist their families.”

The Bo Tkach Foundation, started in 2012, remains committed to its mission of creating awareness of mental health issues while providing essential funding for youth programs, scholarships and otherwise inaccessible mental health screening and treatment, Tkach said. On an annual basis, it provides scholarship awards to deserving students from nine high schools in the region.

For more information on the foundation, go to www.botkach.com.