Four local women have been named “Community Heroes” of 2024 by Mauch Chunk Trust Company.

They are Judy Borger and Tammy Recker, both of Palmerton; Aggie Schoenberger of Lehighton and Yvonne Stoffey of Coaldale.

This year’s class of “heroes” was announced during a reception for them on Friday at the main branch of Mauch Chunk Trust.

All of them had the same reaction to the announcement. They said they didn’t do anything special to receive such a title.

But the individuals who nominated them and the nomination committee of MCT disagreed, saying their volunteerism has made a significant impact and contribution to their community.

Thomas Lisella, chairman of the board of Mauch Chunk Trust, said the decision on honorees is made by a heroes’ selection committee.

“When we consider people to be heroes, I think people who get the Nobel Prize get less scrutiny that we put into the selection process,” he said.

Patrick Reilly, president and CEO of the bank, said this is the 23rd year that MCT has been honoring “Community Heroes.” He said it began in 2000, with a two-year interruption because of COVID.

The bank makes a donation to charities on behalf of each of the individuals.

For Borger, a $200 donation will be made to the Christian Action Council of Palmerton Area Churches.

Borger is outgoing president of the Palmerton Concourse Club, on the board of directors of the Airing of the Quilts in Palmerton, a member of the Palmerton Lions Club and an active member of Jerusalem United Church of Christ where she is involved in fundraising.

“I was pleasantly surprised and very grateful,” she said of receiving the honor.

She has been involved in the community since she moved back to town in 2008. Before that she worked in government; in Harrisburg for 12 years and Washington for 14 years.

“As I got closer to retirement, I moved back here,” she said, adding, “Retirement has become busier than working full-time.”

Recker will have $100 donated to the Palmerton Summer Recreation Program and $100 to the Palmerton Community Festival.

She is involved in many Palmerton youth related activities as well as the Carbon County Fair, the Palmerton Hospital Phone Auction and serving on the Palmerton School Board for the past 12 years.

She said she has been volunteering in organizations “at least 25 to 30 years.”

Two of the things she is most proud of are the Palmerton Prom in the Park, done for Palmerton High School students just prior to their prom, and a special needs Easter Egg Hunt she had started. She said she came up with the Easter Egg Hunt idea because she saw there were some special needs children who had a difficult time at regular egg hunts.

“I saw a need and took it on,” she said.

She and her husband Brian have a daughter, Emily, who recently graduated from Penn State University.

Schoenberger will have $200 donated to the Peaceful Knights Homeless Shelters, which she founded.

She said of the award, “I was surprised. Honored. Humbled. I thought that someone else should get that honor and not me.”

She started Peaceful Knights Homeless Shelters in 2007 which provides an emergency shelter for men between 7 p.m. and 9 a.m. where they can get food, sleep, shower and watch TV.

Shoenberger also started a Transitional Living Program, which provides temporary housing for the homeless providing they make an effort to find work. She said individuals who come to the program “work through struggles many of us can’t even imagine. They’re the true heroes.”

She is married to Harold Schoenberger.

Stoffey will have $100 donated to the Coaldale American Legion Auxiliary and $100 to the Coaldale VFW Auxiliary.

She serves as president of the Panther Valley Womens Club, president of the Black Diamond Parrothead Club, secretary of the Coaldale Community Crime Watch, vice president of the Coaldale Legion Auxiliary, trustee/member of the Coaldale VFW auxiliary and member of the American Cancer Society Telethon organization. She also is a member of Coaldale Borough Council.

“I am humbled; very humbled,” she said. “I truthfully didn’t feel that I do anything more than anyone else.”

She said she has been volunteering since her high school days, saying, “I just enjoy giving back to the community.”

The honorees were introduced by Marty McGuire, vice president and director of marketing of MCT.

A Community Heroes Celebration will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 13, in the Lehighton American Legion Post.