Dozens of cancer survivors gathered for an ice cream social Sunday afternoon at the Lehighton Outdoor Center.

The event was held by Turn To Us to celebrate National Cancer Survivors Day.

Alicia Kline, a founder of the Carbon chapter of Turn to Us and its executive director, said, “Today was important for us to do this. There are not a lot of resources for residents of Carbon County.”

Kline said she got involved with starting Turn To Us when she lost a close friend to cancer. Her friend died at the age of 27.

“I saw the struggles she and her family went through,” Kline said.

Among those attending was Kim Gerhard of Lehighton, a breast cancer survivor.

Gerhard said she is planning to open a boutique in Lehighton that would serve cancer patients. She said she will have wigs and lymphedema products.

Kline said there is a need for such a local store, saying, “Turn To Us will be there to support her the whole way. Our residents should not be burdened with long travel to get needed supplies.”

Gerhard said when she was going through treatment she had to travel to Wilkes-Barre or Allentown for necessities.

Shalmar Mantz, a board member of Turn To Us, said she was impressed with the turnout for the ice cream social.

“We had a great turnout,” she said. “It’s nice to see families socializing with each other.”

Kline said the next scheduled event by Turn To Us is a “girls night out” on June 7.

Girls night out will be held for any woman affected by a major illness — not just cancer — with themselves, a spouse, a parent or a caregiver.

It will be held at the Turn To Us office at 404 Center St., Jim Thorpe, with meditation and yoga starting at 5 p.m. followed by wine tasting and coloring at 6 p.m.

For more information at girls night out or about Turn To Us, call 570-732-4220.