BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Perhaps the most important thing Lehigh Valley transplant Dawn Godshall has learned about the people and organizations of the Valley is this:
No matter the degree of financial drought, folks are forever willing to dip a bucket and share from their own well.
The latest example of caring and giving went public during Community Action Lehigh Valley’s annual meeting luncheon Wednesday at Wind Creek Event Center.
Nonprofits across the board are struggling to meet the demands of the less fortunate, from food insecurity to shelter.
Government funding stalls and reductions have created a widening chasm between food and frustration, further taxing organizations such as CALV, which is dedicated to improving the quality of life in the valley by addressing poverty and promoting economic opportunity.
Funding, along with volunteers, is CALV’s lifeblood.
So with Godshall, the CALV chief executive officer, seated nearby, Tony Iannelli, president of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, took the stage and gifted her an overflowing bucket from the well.
Iannelli announced that the chamber had selected the Bethlehem-based CALV as recipient of its silent auction fundraiser from its upcoming 37th annual Snow Ball event in February.
The event is expected to raise about $30,000 for CALV.
"I am so grateful to be in a valley that cares for its neighbors.”Dawn Godshall, Community Action Lehigh Valley CEO
“I honestly wish I understood how gracious people have been to us here in the Lehigh Valley,” said Godshall, who learned of the chamber’s gift a few days earlier.
“I’m originally from Buffalo [New York], and it’s not like this in Buffalo. When I moved to the Lehigh Valley and saw how this amazing community rallies for one another, I was amazed.
"I am so grateful to be in a valley that cares for its neighbors.”
At the event, a video was shown of Gov. Josh Shapiro celebrating the success of Community Action Lehigh Valley.
'Learn to do more with less'
The annual event highlighted many of the 13 programs under the CALV umbrella, including Sixth Street Shelter in Allentown and Second Harvest Food Bank in Nazareth.
It provided food insecure residents nearly 16 million pounds of food and nearly 13 million meals over its six-county coverage area over the past year.
Food insecurity is a significant issue in the Lehigh Valley, affecting 10.7% of residents, official said. That figure rose after the COVID-19 pandemic, with 15% of children also facing food insecurity.
Factors such as inflation, high housing costs and the aforementioned cuts to federal programs have exacerbated the problem, leading to an increase in demand at local food pantries, officials said.
“We’ve had to learn to do more with less,” Godshall said. “Pantries were designed to supplement, not be the primary source of food for those in need.”
CALV was founded in 1964 on the heels of President Lyndon B. Johnson signing into law the Economic Opportunity Act. The law authorized the formation of local Community Action agencies as part of the War on Poverty.
Updates were shared about three of CALV’s programs: Weatherization, Sixth Street Shelter and Second Harvest Food Bank.
The weatherization program is a state- and federal-funded program that helps low-income households in the Lehigh Valley reduce energy bills and improve home comfort by making their homes more energy-efficient.
“We get 1,000 calls a year from people looking for help,” Weatherization Director Michael Austin said. “This winter, we’ll help 90 homes.”
'We're stretched thin'
Sixth Street Shelter is a 60- to-90-day short-term housing and supportive services program for families with children younger than 18 experiencing homelessness.
The successes have been many, including helping 27 families gain permanent housing and 100% of clients create working household budgets to support long-term stability.
“We’re in a time of constant disruption and chaos. Our commitment to Community Action must be strong. Our community depends on it.”Greater Lehigh Valley Chief Executive Marci Lesko
Sixth Street Shelter Director Tijuana Reed said the shelter has used an ESSA grant to assist more than 2,500 individuals.
Second Harvest Associate Executive Director Sarah Wassel addressed the strain food banks and pantries have experienced given federal program cuts.
“We’re stretched thin,” Wassel said. Keeping food bank shelves full is a challenge, she said.
“But we must stand together. This is about the strength of our neighbors. We have the power to ensure no one is left behind. We work better when we work together.”
Keynote speaker at the event was United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chief Executive Marci Lesko.
Lesko urged continued and increased support for CALV, and pledged a United Way donation from the stage.
“We’re in a time of constant disruption and chaos,” Lesko said. “Our commitment to Community Action must be strong. Our community depends on it.”
Lesko shared a poignant parable that illustrated the difference between selfishness and compassion.
In one hall (hell), people are miserable and starving because they can't feed themselves with long-handled spoons.
In the other hall (heaven), the people are happy and well-fed because they use the same long spoons to feed each other.
"That's how we will get through this," Lesko said. "We will feed each other."
To donate to Community Action Lehigh Valley, go to https://www.communityactionlv.org/donate
