The Palmerton Lions Club will present nine monetary donations to area non-profit organizations at "Community Spirit Night" this evening. The awards will be presented at a special dinner at the Fireline Hotel in Bowmanstown. Recipients include: Aquaschicola Fire Company, Blue Ridge Toy and Food Drive, Dream Come True, Palmerton Community Ambulance, Palmerton Fire Company, Palmerton Library, Palmerton Meals on Wheels, CACPAC and Trachsville Fire Company. In addition, the club will be recognizing the community volunteer of the year and two Palmerton High School Leos of the year.

According to club president, George Unangst "Money raised at the club's waffle and ice cream stand at the Carbon County Fair held each August, the Palmerton Community Festival held each September and the Cash Bingo and Basket Raffle held each November enables the Palmerton Lions to give back to the community we serve, while meeting the pressing needs of several non-profit organizations. These awards, notes Unangst, are particularly important at a time when cuts in state and federal funding have made a significant impact on the ability of our community organizations to survive. Providing these monetary awards truly allows the Palmerton Lions Club to make a difference in our community," Unangst added.In addition to the nine monetary awards being given at Community Spirit Night, the following will also be named: Community Volunteer of the Year.The Palmerton Lions Club meets on the first Monday of each month at the Palmerton Library on Delaware Avenue in Palmerton at 7 p.m. and the third Monday of each month at the Fireline Hotel. Lions clubs are a group of men and women who identify needs within the community and work together to fulfill those needs. For more information or to get involved with the Palmerton Area Lions Club, please contact Nick Hawkey at (610) 824-6490.Lions Clubs International is the world's largest service club organization with more than 1.3 million members in approximately 45,000 clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas around the world. Since 1917, Lions clubs have aided the blind and visually impaired and made a strong commitment to community service and serving youth throughout the world. For more information about Lions Clubs International, visit

www.lionsclubs.org.