If you have any questions that are not answered on this page, please contact karena@
When are you open?
What do I do when I get there?
How long does it take?
Are you a choice pantry?
Who qualifies for food assistance?
Can I go to more than one food pantry?
What is the difference between a food pantry and food bank?
What is the difference between a food pantry and an emergency pantry?
What do I need to bring to get food from a pantry?
I can’t make it to my pantry distribution. What can I do to get food if I can’t physically get there? Do pantries deliver?
How much food will I get from the pantry?
I have a relative living with me. Can we both get food from the pantry?
I have a friend who goes to a different food pantry and gets more food and better quality food.
What is your service area?
I’m from Carbon County, but my zip code isn’t on your list. Where do I go?
Do you know of any other food pantries or soup kitchens in Monroe County?
What about other areas of the Lehigh Valley and Poconos?
I’m homeless. What do I do?
I have a complaint… who do I talk to?
I have special dietary restrictions. Can you help?
What is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and how do I apply?
Q: When are you open?
The West End Food Pantry located at 516 Kunkletown Road, Kunkletown PA 18058 in the Eldred Twp. Community Center is open the 1st & 3rd Saturday each month from 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM/noon.
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Q: What do I do when I get there?
Please head to the waiting area and find our volunteer who will give you a number. When your number is called you will do the required paperwork. From there you will get a shopping cart and follow the “store” laid out for you. Every product option is marked with a number. This number is the amount of that product you are allowed to take. The number is set so everyone that comes through the pantry has the option to have that product.
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Q: How long does it take?
Think of a food pantry visit as similar to a grocery store visit but with very long lines. Depending on the day, number of families present and time you come in; you can expect to wait anywhere from 15 min to 2 hours +. Our system allows us to feed 1 family every 45 seconds seconds-1 minute max.
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Q: Are you a choice pantry?
Our pantry is a choice pantry. This allows you to shop the shelves and take only what you like and will use, saving what don’t like for others.
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Q: Who qualifies for food assistance?
Our food pantries typically serve individuals and families earning less than 150% of the federal poverty line. See the chart below:
| Number of People | Monthly Household Income |
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Additional People | $2,095 $2,823 $3,551 $4,278 $5,006 $5,734 $6,461 $7,189 $728 |
Q: Can I go to more than one food pantry?
We know some situations require visiting more than one food pantry. However, we ask that you keep this to a minimum and choose one food pantry to attend for as long as you need it. This allows all food pantries to serve as many people as possible allowing no one to go hungry.
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Q: What is the difference between a food pantry and food bank?
A Food Bank has a large warehouse facility where they receive and store products that are then made available to member agencies such as food pantries and soup kitchen. Food pantries get products from the Food Bank and either pick up the items from us or have them delivered. The food pantries distribute the products to families needing food. As of 2017, our area Food Bank charges a $0.05 per lb. fee for food picked or delivered to our pantry.
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Q: What is the difference between a food pantry and an emergency pantry?Food pantries provide regular service to individuals and families within their service area (on a weekly, bi-weekly or monthly basis). Families must visit the pantry on the specific date the pantry is open. Emergency food pantries may be open all day, and can offer enough food to help a family get by until their next pantry day.
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Q: What do I need to bring to get food from a pantry?
We recommend that you bring proof of residency, knowledge of income and a valid photo ID. We also ask you to bring bags for your food.
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Q: I can’t make it to my pantry distribution. What can I do to get food if I can’t physically get there? Do pantries deliver?
We do not provide delivery services, but will allow another person to pick up your food for you. Talk to the Sign In Desk and they will give you a proxy form to fill out. If you are disabled, or over the age of 60, there are meal delivery programs called Meals on Wheels that will bring hot and cold meals directly to your home.
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Q: How much food will I get from the pantry?
The amount of food given out at our pantry depends on resources available. We are designed to be supplemental, and strive to provide families with at least 3-5 days of food.
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Q: I have a relative living with me. Can we both get food from the pantry?
Food pantries provide food assistance based on household size. If you live in the same house or apartment, you are counted in the same household and would receive one food order for your household – not two orders.
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Q: I have a friend who goes to a different food pantry and gets more food and better quality food.
All pantries serve a specific service area to ensure they have the capacity to serve the families in their neighborhood or surrounding neighborhood. What is donated varies per pick up day and time. We give what we get but have great variation on amount and choices from distribution to distribution.
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Q: What is your service area?
AS OF AUGUST 19, 2017, WE WILL FEED BY ZIP CODE ONLY. THE FOLLOWING ARE THE ONLY ZIP CODES THAT ARE ELIGIBLE TO COME TO THE WEST END FOOD PANTRY. ZIP CODES THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED ARE DUE TO THE FACT THAT THERE ARE MANY SERVICES IN YOUR LOCAL AREA, WHICH CAN BE FOUND AT WWW.WESTENDPANTRY.COM UNDER FAQS, OR HARD COPIES ARE AVAILABLE IN THE SIGN IN ROOM. (If you find that you are unsatisfied or have complaints about the pantry in your local area, please call Dave Cool at Second Harvest Food Bank at 610-434-0875.)
MONROE
- Kunkletown 18058
- Kresgeville 18333
- Gilbert 18331
- Saylorsburg 18353
- Brodheadsville 18322
- Effort 18330
- Sciota 18354
- Stroudsburg 18360
- Long Pond 18334
- Albrightsville 18210
- Reeders 18352
- Bartonsville 18321
- Tannersville 18372
CARBON
- Aquashicola 18012
- Palmerton 18071
- Bowmanstown 18030
- Parryille 18244
- Lehighton 18235 (NOTE: We will cease service to this zip code as of August 1, 2023)
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Q: I’m from Carbon County, but my zip code isn’t on your list. Where do I go?
We have compiled a list of Carbon County food pantries for your use.
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Q: Do you know of any other food pantries or soup kitchens in Monroe County?
This is a list of all the food pantries and soup kitchens in Monroe County:
Monroe Food Pantries and Soup Kitchens
This is a flyer from Pocono Info detailing how to find resources in Monroe County:
Q: What about other areas of the Lehigh Valley and Poconos?
The following is a comprehensive list of pantries in the Lehigh Valley/Poconos:
All Pantry List
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Q: I’m homeless. What do I do?
Please click here for information on Street2Feet Outreach Center, or visit their Facebook.
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Q: I have a complaint… who do I talk to?
Contact our Pantry Director, Karena Thek at karena@westendfoodpantry.org or you may send a message to our Facebook page.
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Q: I have special dietary restrictions. Can you help?
Most pantries do their best to help clients that have special dietary needs/restrictions, but unfortunately many times we do not have the capability to make those types of accommodations. Additionally, all of the food distributed through our food pantry is donated, so particular food items needed for a particular diet may not be available.
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Q: What is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and how do I apply?
A: SNAP is a federal program in recipients are allotted a specific dollar amount loaded onto a dhttps://www.dhs.pa.gov/Services/Assistance/Pages/SNAP-Income-Limits.aspxebit card. SNAP’s income guidelines are different than our food pantry income guidelines. Apply for benefits here.
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