The mission of the Lehighton Pool Pals is to create lifetime memories for the youth of Lehighton and surrounding areas.

The group upheld that belief this past Saturday with a pre-teen dance, with the cooperation of Moms of Carbon County.

Mark Hoffman, chairman of Lehighton Pool Pals, said, “The pre-teen dance was a perfect fit, and the night’s dance turned out perfect.

Hoffman added he had some hesitancy hosting the event knowing it was the first time and was not sure what the turnout would be.

Hoffman said, “As soon as the doors opened, it was obvious the dance was going to be a huge success.”

“Many of the preteen patrons of the dance came dressed in beautiful gowns and dresses and dress shirts,” he said. “It was very obvious they were looking forward to this dance.”

Hoffman said that Stevie Ray, the DJ for the night, played the right mix of music and games to keep everyone on the dance floor leaving at the end of the night exhausted.

Diane Hoffman, a member of the Pool Pals said the most rewarding thing she heard was when carrying items to her car at the end of the night, she overheard a mother ask her child if she had a good time, to which the daughter said it was indeed an awesome night.

The Lehighton Pool Pals encouraged those coming to the dance to bring a nonperishable food item to be donated to Trinity Lutheran Church’s pantry.

In total, more than 50 pounds of food was donated, which was delivered to the pantry Tuesday night.