Members of the Germantown Grove Club, Jim Thorpe, held a soup and hot dog sale at Bright Path Brewing on North Street. The money raised goes to cover the costs of the annual Special Needs Fishing Derby to be held May 8 and 9 at the Grove.

“This is our 70th year,” said Joe Shigo, a member of the Germantown Grove Club. “We usually get around 180 kids both days.”

“We want to thank Bright Path for allowing us to come out here today to do our special needs raffle sale and raffle,” Kimberly Sargent said. “In addition to today’s fundraiser, we will have more events scheduled. Follow us on Facebook for when they are scheduled.”

The Special Needs Fishing Derby was started in 1954 by the American Legion and by Germantown resident Phil Rodgers and others. The children were able to experience the thrill of the sport by getting to catch fish in the section of the stream maintained and stocked by the Germantown Grove Club.

In addition to catching the fish, the children will also be treated to barbecue, hog dogs, chips and pretzels, drinks, and prizes.

Along with the soup sale, club members raffled off a yeti picnic cooler. Marie Shigo was the winner.

The Germantown Grove Club will also host the 2025 Rug McArdle and Hunter Wolfe Youth Fishing Derby for boys and girls ages 5 to 15 from noon to 3 p.m. on May 3.

In addition to the philanthropic work, the Germantown Grove Club is also teaching children about ecology. This year, for the first time, the club is working with Dakota McGonigal’s fifth-grade class at LB Morris Elementary School to present “PA Trout in the Classroom.” The class will be raising trout this year, which will then be released into the local cold-water ecosystems.