Every year, the Palmerton Lions Club donates money to several nonprofit organizations in Palmerton at its Community Spirit Night. They earn this money through fundraisers, such as the waffle and ice cream sale at the Palmerton Community Festival, hand-dipped ice cream at the Carbon County Fair, a Basket Raffle and Bingo in November, and new this year was a New Year's Day Pork and Sauerkraut Dinner at the Palmerton Social Club.

"Everything we earn, we give away," said Robert Silliman, director of the Palmerton Lions Club.This year they gave away $3,000. Eight organizations received a portion of the total. One of these organizations is Meals on Wheels of Palmerton."I think the best thing about Meals on Wheels is that we are able to provide conversation to people who might not otherwise have anything," said Kristin Melnick, director of nutritional and environmental services. "(The volunteers) fill that need. Monday through Friday a person will come to the door with a smile.""They truly care about the people they provide the meals to," said Marilyn Flexer, the assistant food service director for Blue Mountain Health System. "They're very dedicated."The meals provided to Meals on Wheels are prepared at Palmerton Hospital. Melnick said the meals are coordinated with what is being served in the hospital."That's so our cooks and production staff aren't pulling their hair out," she said.Meals on Wheels does accommodate dietary restrictions, but they need to have a physician's directive to do so, Melnick said.They serve the homebound a hot lunch, cold sandwich for later in the day and a cold breakfast. Melnick said they intend to use the donation from the Lions Club to buy insulated containers to keep the meals hot in transit."They do appreciate a good, hot home-cooked meal," Flexer said.Their 24 recipients love the soups. The homemade chicken noodle tops the list, but cream of potato and broccoli and cheese soups are a close second and third.The Palmerton Meals on Wheels was established in 1972 by a group of concerned citizens, Melnick said. The program continues today with the help of its volunteers."The need is great," she said. They always welcome additional help. "They don't get paid, so there's a reason they do what they do. We want to take care of the people who live here."Another organization that is taking care of the people is the Christian Action Council of Palmerton Area Churches. It is a cooperative organization of 16 Palmerton area churches, and also received a donation from the Palmerton Lions Club.CACPAC runs a food bank out of St. John's Lutheran Towamensing Church on Fireline Road in Palmerton."The best part of it is all the different congregations working together to make (the food bank) happen, that spirit of community working together to make it happen," said Jody Neifert, the pastor of St. John's Lutheran Towamensing Church.Neifert said his church began provided the housing of the food bank because they had the space. Now they are bursting at the seams."Would be nice," he said about finding a larger facility for the food bank. "It's functional, but it's difficult."Neifert said the monetary donation from the Lions Club will go toward the purchase of food."The (food) donations help," he said. "But there's a massive food order every month."The food bank serves 170 families each month, in addition to emergency funding."Whenever we get a phone call, we try to help," he said.The other six nonprofit organizations that received funding from the Palmerton Lions Club are the Aquashicola Fire Co., Blue Ridge Toy and Food Drive, Dream Come True, Palmerton Fire Co., Palmerton Library and the Palmerton West End Fire Co.