Health & Wellness News

With SNAP benefits delayed in November and the holidays approaching, Lehigh Valley residents can help or get help. Here's where to find food pantries, volunteer opportunities, and donation info.

U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, R-Lehigh Valley, has organized a food drive while pinning the ongoing government shutdown on Senate Democrats. SNAP benefits that help feed millions of low-income Americans are hours away from expiring.

The United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley and the Lehigh Valley Community Foundation have launched a $500,000 fundraising campaign to strengthen food access and deliver rapid relief to families in need.

In the Lehigh Valley, 105,000 people rely on SNAP benefits for food assistance. One in four of them is a child. When federal safety nets falter, the charitable food network becomes the community’s last line of defense. It requires collaboration, leadership and shared purpose.

About 400 Allentown families came to The Salvation Army for The Give Back resource event Wednesday, where they received shelf-stable food, daily necessities, and more, just as federal assistance benefits are about to be cut off.

The move announced Monday affects patients at LVHN hospitals and offices in the Lehigh Valley – those properties that were providing care before Jefferson Health’s acquisition of LVHN last summer.

The St. Luke’s D&L RaceFest signups are open, offering participants a chance to qualify for the prestigious Boston Marathon.

The Lehigh Valley International Airport on Friday debuted GoodMaps, a smartphone-driven, audio guidance app for passengers with physical and emotional challenges.

The Pediatric Cancer Foundation of the Lehigh Valley held groundbreaking ceremonies for its facility expansion on Wednesday in South Whitehall Township.

The Bethlehem data of St. Luke’s recently completed triennial Community Health Needs Assessment was released at Nitschmann Middle School on Monday.

The Nazareth branch of the River Crossing YMCA announced a $9 million renovation project that will begin in April 2026. The project is $1.5 million short of its goal.

The Philadelphia-based health system will lay off 1% of its staff, citing "financial headwinds." Jefferson Health completed its acquisition of Lehigh Valley Health Network in August 2024.

The Bethlehem Tides swim team is returning for another competitive season this summer. Registration for ages 6 through high school opens soon, with swimmers gaining access to Memorial Pool and a skill-building experience.

Palmer Township's Aiden Hess, 20, pictured with his mother Melissa, continues searching for a living donor kidney after transplant surgery was cancelled late last month.

These siblings make peanut butter to support finding a cure for Type 1 diabetes. The chronic disease has affected one of their young sons and requires lifetime management.

The Boys and Girls Club of Easton's weekend food giveaway isn't just a place to pick up some pantry staples, it's a community unto itself where people can connect with new friends and neighbors.

The foundation supports student-athletes by providing academic support and pairing them with mentors. Saquon Barkley's foundation and St. Luke's University Health Network are among the partners in the effort.

St. Luke's University Health Network on Friday launched an email helpline for residents with questions about avian flu. No human cases have so far been recorded in Pennsylvania.

The Valley’s two major health networks are preparing for an increase in bird flu in people. Cases have been generally mild, with none reported so far in Pennsylvania.

The newest honeygrow location will open in Airport Shopping Center at 1872 Airport Road, Hanover Township, Lehigh County.

Neighborhood Health Centers of the Lehigh Valley is holding a "Give Kids a Smile Day" event later this month, offering free dental services for children in Allentown.

The Trump administration directive, rescinded Wednesday, could have put tens of millions of dollars at risk across the Lehigh Valley, speakers said Friday outside the Lehigh County Government Center.

Lehigh Valley Health Network Childcare Center at River Crossing YMCA observed its 100th day of operation. Services are available for LVHN employees and other community families.

According to CDC data, drug overdose deaths steeply decreased in Northampton County, not long after the campaign was launched. Northampton County's reduction in overdose deaths has beaten the state's, and the country's averages.