As we welcome the spring season, we’re excited to share the remarkable progress that iHave iNeed has made so far in 2025. Your continued support has been instrumental in our mission to rescue essential goods for those in need while promoting sustainable practices throughout our community.
Winter Highlights and Progress
The numbers tell a powerful story of what we’ve accomplished together since January 1st:
- 10,000+ pounds of rescued items: We’ve already rescued over 10,000 pounds of food, household, and personal items since January 1st, demonstrating the significant impact of our rescue efforts.
- 130+ volunteer hours: Our dedicated volunteers have contributed more than 130 hours of their time, not including the countless hours spent by our board members on administrative and organizational planning tasks.
- 15+ weekly pickups: Thanks to our dedicated volunteers from Via of the Lehigh Valley, we maintain a consistent schedule of 10+ pickups during the week from local bagel shops, bakeries, and convenience stores, ensuring a steady flow of resources to those who need them most.
New Partnerships and Community Connections
We’re thrilled to welcome a handful of new partners to our growing network:
- Saucon Valley School District: Setting a wonderful example of sustainability and community support, their cafeteria food services have coordinated pickups of rescued food twice a week with New Jerusalem Lutheran Food Bank, thanks to motivated teachers at the middle school and support from their building principal. Let’s also give a shout-out to Northern Lehigh School District who continues to donate excess food items each week.
- Whitehall Food Pantry: This new addition to our supported charitable organizations receives weekly Monday deliveries of food, personal, and household items for their weekly distribution to recipients in need.
- Catasauqua Food Pantry: Another valuable addition to our network, this food pantry conducts give-outs twice a week on Wednesdays and Fridays, expanding our reach to more community members.
Surplus Program Success
Our surplus program continues to thrive, efficiently redistributing excess resources:
- Operation: Address the Homeless (OATH), Dough2Door, and Northern Lehigh Food Bank (NLFB) regularly reach out when they have surplus items, allowing us to connect them directly with organizations in need or arrange for pickup and delivery through our volunteer network.
- This program ensures that valuable resources are utilized to their fullest potential, maximizing our impact on the community and minimizing waste.
Community Engagement
We recently participated at the Parkland Community and Resource Fair to share our mission with interested community members and recruit new volunteers. These events are crucial for raising awareness about food waste and sustainable practices while expanding our network of supporters.
How You Can Help
Your support makes all of this possible, and we’ve made it easier than ever to help sustain our mission:
- Become a Sustaining Donor: For just $1 a day – much less than a cup of coffee – you can help ensure we can continue providing essential resources, coordinating with local partners, and covering our transportation and operational costs. Plus, sustaining donors are eligible to receive a genuine iHave iNeed t-shirt! Click here to safely and securely begin your tax-deductible* contribution.
- Volunteer Opportunities: We’re always looking for dedicated individuals to help with pickups, deliveries, sorting, and community outreach.
- Business Connections: If you have connections with local businesses, help us establish partnerships for item donations.
Become a Sustaining Donor Today
Thank you for being part of our journey to create a more sustainable and compassionate community. Your support makes every rescue possible, and we’re grateful to have you as part of the iHave iNeed family.