Spring in the Lehigh Valley means something different to us than it does to most organizations. It means fruit farms calling to say the harvest is coming. It means a local bakery saying yes to weekly pita bread rescues. It means a playground association clearing out last season’s basketballs — and us making sure those basketballs end up in the hands of kids who will love them.
And it means we have a lot to share with you.
The Number That Says It All
As of this spring, iHave iNeed has rescued over 91,700 pounds of food and essential goods in 2026 alone.
That’s more than 45 tons — in under five months. Food, produce, baked goods, personal items, basketballs, eggs — all of it rescued, redirected, and delivered to neighbors who needed it most, instead of ending up in the trash.
None of it happens without you. Thank you.
New Rescue Partners: Our Network Keeps Growing
One of the most exciting parts of what we do is welcoming new partners into the fold — businesses, schools, farms, and community organizations who are choosing to rescue over waste. This spring, we are proud to welcome several new sources to our rescue network:
- Emmaus High School of East Penn School District — we are now conducting weekly food rescues, and we’ve made a direct connection with GroceriesPlus Food Pantry at Bethel BFC Church nearby. When schedules align, their volunteers pick up directly for their pantry — exactly the kind of community coordination we love to see.
- Soumaya & Sons Bakery — donating pita bread each week, delivered to local charities.
- Suyundalla Farms — surplus eggs rescued and delivered to local food pantries. Fresh. Local. Rescued.
- Catty Cafe in Catasauqua — donating accumulated frozen food items, when available.
- Cay Galgon Life House — hundreds of pounds of surplus produce rescued that would otherwise have gone to waste.
- Schnecksville Playground Association — rescued basketballs and uniforms from previous seasons, now headed to kids who can use them.
- Eastern PA Down Syndrome Center — surplus items from one of their events, including three cases of marshmallow Peeps, rescued and redistributed.
- Greenway 5K in Easton, PA — at the end of this community race event, we rescued cases of bottled and canned water, bananas, juice boxes, chalk, apples, chips, and donuts. Nothing went to waste.
Growing Season Ahead
We are especially excited about what’s coming as the weather warms:
- Hausman’s Fruit Farm and Valley Fruits and Veggies have committed to donating any surplus produce once the harvest begins. Local, fresh, rescued.
- Master Gardeners and Lehigh Valley Neighbors Adopt a Pantry Plus Program — beginning in early June, local gardeners will consolidate surplus harvest for weekly pickup and distribution by iHave iNeed. This is community generosity meeting community need in the most direct way possible.
The growing season is here. We’ll be ready.
New Charity Partners
As our rescue network grows, so does the community of organizations we serve. We are proud to welcome these new charity partners:
Angels of Easton · Camp Fowler · KidsPeace · Cay Galgon Life House
Every new partner represents more families served, more pounds delivered, and more impact made possible by your support.
Strengthening Our Leadership: Welcome, New Board Members
This spring, we welcomed three extraordinary individuals to the iHave iNeed board of directors. Each brings deep expertise and a genuine passion for our mission.
Bill Etter brings deep roots in the local food system to our board. He currently serves as the Food Recovery Coordinator at Second Harvest Food Bank of the Lehigh Valley, where he works daily with donors and agency partners across the region. His practical, grounded perspective is already an asset to our work.
Mark Miller is an experienced Strategic Communications Consultant with a 35-year career spanning advertising, branding, and corporate leadership. Formerly the Chief Communications Officer at Olympus and VP at Securitas North America, Mark focuses on helping organizations like ours expand their reach and deepen community impact. He also serves on the board of Camelot for Children.
Bert Mukkulainen comes with decades of experience in sales, marketing, and procurement, along with a remarkable track record of volunteer and nonprofit leadership — including founding and leadership roles at the Parkland Area Soccer Club, Lehigh Valley Cycling Club, and Muhlenberg College Alumni Board. Bert’s network and enthusiasm for community outreach will help us grow.
We are grateful to each of them for their commitment. Welcome, Bill, Mark, and Bert.
Funding Updates: Thank You for Believing in Our Work
We are proud to share two recent grants that will directly support our cold storage and transport capacity:
- Allentown Rotary Club — $2,000
- Harry C. Trexler Trust — $4,800
These investments mean we can continue to operate safely, efficiently, and with the capacity to rescue more.
Out in the Community
The past few months have been full of conversations, connections, and events where we have had the opportunity to share our mission:
- GLVCC Nonprofit & Business Partners Collaboration Conference — our table was generously sponsored by Unity Bank. We met many new contacts and spread the word about what we do.
- GLVCC Nonprofit Council’s Winter Forum — attendance sponsored by Working Dog Press. More great conversations, more connections made.
- One Million Cups — we’ve attended twice and will be presenting in the coming months. Stay tuned.
- RE/MAX Monthly Group Meeting — we had the opportunity to speak to their team, and we are grateful for our new partnership with the RE/MAX Allentown office led by Kristi Smith, who generously lets us borrow their moving truck when we need it. That kind of practical support makes a real difference.
- St. Luke’s Half Marathon — we partnered again this year to pick up shed clothing at the start of the race. Nearly 100 pounds of clothing rescued and redirected to those in need.
- Lehigh Valley Community Foundation — we sat down with their team to explore how we can work together to build capacity and maximize the reach and impact of our mission. We are grateful for their interest and look forward to what this relationship may bring.
- We also connected with the Traffic Club of the Lehigh Valley, sharing our mission with their members — logistics, transportation, and distribution professionals who understand exactly what it takes to move goods efficiently. We are excited about what those conversations may bring.
Our Volunteers: The Heartbeat of This Mission
Up to 30 pickups a week — and more deliveries beyond that, since a single rescue can be distributed across multiple receiving agencies. That is what our volunteer community is delivering, week after week, every day of the week.
We are in awe of your dedication. Thank you.
Here’s How You Can Help
- Know a business, farm, or school with surplus? Make an introduction — we’ll handle the rest.
- Volunteer for pickups and deliveries. Every hour helps.
- Donate to support transportation, cold storage, and operational costs. A recurring gift of $1/day makes a sustained difference.
- Follow and share our posts on Facebook and Instagram.
- Spread the word — to your neighbors, your colleagues, your community.
Together, we are turning what would be wasted into what is needed most — every single day.
Thank you for being part of this.