We pledge to establish and maintain a central collection facility for grocery products and
efficiently administer the distribution of its resources.
We pledge to create opportunities to involve the community as food donors, volunteers and financial supporters.
We pledge to work collaboratively on programs that empower the needy to meet their own nutritional needs.
We pledge to communicate the plight of those that go hungry in our community.
We pledge to recognize the right of all human beings to be treated with dignity and respect and we will seek the good will of the community and those who serve.
We pledge to serve Jesus Christ in providing for and loving our neighbors as we would ourselves.No one should ever go hungry
BackgroundAssumption B.V.M. Church
Calvary Bible Fellowship Church
Chestnut Hill Church
Cornerstone Presbyterian Church
Faith United Church of Christ
Friedens Evangelical Lutheran Church
MorningStar Moravian Church
Saucon Mennonite Church
St. James Evangelical Lutheran Church
St. John’s United Church of Christ
St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church
St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church
12 Area Participating ChurchesThe food bank had its beginnings in the home of Fern Mann, a Coopersburg resident. As others in the community heard of Fern’s ministry of distributing food, they began to donate items to Fern and to refer to her the names of families and persons who needed assistance.
When it became too much for her to handle from her home, Fern approached the Southern Lehigh Area Churches (SLAC) board. It was decided they would continue her wonderful mission, and the food ministry was renamed the Southern Lehigh Area Churches Food Bank.
The Food Bank was housed at Pinebrook College in Coopersburg. The Food Bank grew rapidly. More space to accommodate the storage, coordination, and distribution of food items was needed.
In 1987 St. James Lutheran Church, also in Coopersburg, donated the basement of their Administrative Building to house the Food Bank—where it still operates today. A committee composed of representatives from each of the 12 churches involved in the Food Bank was created to effectively manage the ministry. This committee meets quarterly. Each participating church rotates responsibility to restock shelves and pack food for distribution.
The Food Bank is supported by generous food and monetary donations from churches, individuals, and community groups.
The Southern Lehigh Area Churches Food Bank has fed as few as 5 families and as many as 90 families on a biweekly basis. Food is distributed Saturday mornings and as needed.
In 2009, after 26 years of continuous service to the community as the food bank coordinator, Betty Lou Clauser retired. In honor of Betty Lou, and her tireless efforts, the food bank was permanently renamed Betty Lou’s Pantry.
Betty Lou’s Pantry is a non-profit organization of participating churches in the Southern Lehigh area committed to gathering and distributing food products from our Lord’s bounty to our neighbors in need.
Our Mission & Core ValuesAbout Betty Lou's Pantry
Betty Lou's Pantry