The Lehighton and Jim Thorpe food pantries recently received $1,000 checks from the Bo Tkach Foundation, which has expanded its community outreach program to help feed families in need.

In addition to making the donations to provide food for the less fortunate, the foundation provides funding for young people to receive counseling services that they might not otherwise be able to obtain due to lack of funds and/or insurance, as well as academic scholarships at nine area high schools.