The Horsehead Community Development Fund Board came together at the Palmerton Library to distribute more than $20,000 to local charitable organizations on Tuesday.

Recipients of this year’s awards included the Palmerton Area Library Association, the Aquashicola Volunteer Fire Company, the borough of Palmerton, the Palmerton Area Chamber of Commerce, the Carbon County Fair Association, the Slatington Public Library and the Lehigh Gap Nature Center.

The Horsehead Community Development Fund Board came together in 1990 to contribute to charitable projects located in and around Palmerton. Funds were previously sourced through the Horsehead Corporation, though American Zinc Recycling has stepped up to the plate to continue the charitable contributions.

“They have made one contribution to us so far, and we are hoping that they will continue that,” Chairman James A. Wimmer said, addressing the crowd.

“It would be wonderful for the community, because, as you may be aware, we’ve been in existence for a long time, and to date, we’ve given away more than $3.2 million to organizations like yours and others, who benefit our community.”

These contributions will allow the organizations to purchase supplies, start new programs, and invest in building maintenance.

The Carbon County Fair Association’s funds will be used to purchase swine pens for the benefit of the 4-H Club members who display animals at the fair.

Wimmer talked about the process with the 4-H members who accepted the donation on the Fair Association’s behalf. Members readily responded to his questions on raising, showing and selling livestock, as well as other aspects of the club.

“During our meetings, we talk about different things everyone can do to help the community through our club. We talk about the fair, the previous year and the upcoming year, and we raise animals to sell at the Carbon County Fair. I raise market steers and market swine,” 4-H news reporter Ashley Mosier said.

Some funding was distributed for necessary building repairs, such as in the case of both libraries. The Horsehead Community Development Board funding couldn’t have come through at a better time, Palmerton Area Library Association director Diane Danielson said.

“They have always been very generous with the library,” Danielson said. “When we found out a year or two ago that we needed a whole new roof, we knew it would cost a lot of money. We’ve raised money from some other places, we’ve gotten a few other grants, but this was like the last piece of the puzzle that will allow us to complete this before winter comes.”

Finishing off the check distributions, Wimmer thanked the respective groups for their work on behalf of the board and the community as a whole.

“We thank all of you for all of the hard work that you do, whether it’s taking care of nature preserves, libraries, or animals, or whatever it might be, such as the fire company who protects us,” Wimmer said. “We appreciate it. We appreciate your work, and the community appreciates it, too.”