The following is a statement from Catholic Charities, Diocese of Allentown, attributable to Andrea Kochan Neagle, JD, Managing Director for Catholic Charities:
Expanded food service for the hungry in Schuylkill County officially begins on September 30. Catholic Charities will continue its regular meals in Pottsville while offering additional food service in 10 other communities.
While I am gratified to be able to provide this good news to the community, all of us at Catholic Charities are saddened that there has been so much unnecessary confusion and misinformation over this issue.
Here are the facts:
Meal service in Pottsville – Meals will be offered three times per week from the Catholic Charities Community Café food truck, parked on Mahantongo Street across from St. Patrick’s church. Service next week will be on September 30th, October 2nd, and October 3rd from 4pm to 5pm. Dates and times for future weeks will be announced well in advance so everyone can know when they can get a meal. With this change, the former soup kitchen on Mahantongo Street will close.
Expanded meal service in 10 other communities – Our expanded food truck meal service now will be available in Ashland, Frackville, Mahanoy City, McAdoo, Minersville, New Philadelphia, Ringtown, Sheppton, Tamaqua, and Tremont. Service days and times will be announced.
Questions about donations to Catholic Charities – Unfortunately, there has been a large amount of incorrect information and speculation in one local media outlet and on social media about generous donations made to our food service operations.
A donation of $100,000 was made to Catholic Charities in late 2021, and we have invested that in an endowment fund, meaning that it will continue to benefit food access in Schuylkill County well into the future.
If other donations are made to support food service in Pottsville or throughout the county, Catholic Charities will use the money as specified by the donor – as we always do.
Catholic Charities is very transparent about its operations. Every year, as is required of any charitable organization, we file a Form 990 with the federal government. It’s a clear explanation of our finances, and it’s easy to find that form online with a simple Google search.
The men and women at Catholic Charities, including our hard-working volunteers, staff, and our generous donors, are doing their absolute best to serve the needs of our communities. That includes finding the best way to provide needed meals, not only in Pottsville, but throughout Schuylkill County.
I am proud of what Catholic Charities has done here in Schuylkill County, and of what we will continue to do. I think a review of the facts – rather than paying attention to rumors – is the best way to judge us.
I invite everyone in our communities to join us -- as a volunteer, as a donor, or as both – as we continue to feed the hungry and provide compassionate care for all.
This news release references Andrea Neagle's Op-ed, which was published here.
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