The four fire companies serving Palmerton Area School District got a financial boost this week, courtesy of the high school’s Leo Club.

Club members donated $500 each Monday afternoon to Palmerton Municipal Fire Department, Towamensing Township Volunteer Fire Company, Aquashicola Volunteer Fire Company and the Bowmanstown Volunteer Fire Company.

“Over the course of the last two years we’ve been raising a lot of money through fundraisers such as candy sales and we eventually find somewhere in the community to donate the money,” club President Erin Kistler said.

“This year we decided the fire companies were a good place to donate. We don’t often hear of other groups doing fundraisers for the fire companies. Usually they have to raise money for themselves, so we thought it would be nice to help out.”

Palmerton Borough Fire Chief Jason Behler said any amount of money is a help to the companies and the Leo Club donation is no different.

“In today’s day and age, everything is expensive,” Behler said. “We’re very appreciative of the Leo Club thinking about us.”

As it turns out, some of the money may directly help Palmerton students.

Palmerton Municipal Fire Department recently started a junior firefighting program and some of the club’s donation could be earmarked for outfitting some of the new junior members.

Behler’s son Kameron recently became the first member under the new program and Jason hopes more students will take advantage of the opportunity.

“We’re always looking for new talent and membership,” Jason said.

“I started as a junior firefighter when I was 14. Volunteerism is not what it used to be. At one time, we had 40-50 people and now that is down into the mid-20s.

“That sounds like a good number, but you can’t always anticipate every member being able to make a call. Any time you can supplement your membership with a junior program, you can’t put a price tag on that.”

Volunteerism is exactly what the Leo Club hopes to continue to promote.

“The club didn’t run last year during the pandemic,” Vice President Emma Christman said, “so our main goal is to continue getting out in the community and helping out wherever we can.

“We put in a lot of community service hours as a club and we’ll keep doing that.