The Lehighton Area Pool Pals has expanded the number of free pool passes to 29 families who meet financial criteria. The deadline to apply is April 1.

Applications can be found at the Pool Pal website lehightonareapoolpals.org. Families chosen to receive a family pass will be notified shortly after April 1. If the family already purchased a season pass, they will be reimbursed.

Mark Hoffman, chairman of Lehighton Area Pool Pals, said the organization has established an annual goal of awarding one additional family season pass more than the previous year.

Lehighton Area Pool Pals awarded 25 family passes in 2024, but will be able to give out 29 in 2025 due to the amount of community support.

Pool Pal volunteers held a gift card bingo event at the Lehighton Recreation Center on St. Patrick’s Day.

“This year’s fundraising effort was a huge success,” Hoffman said. “The event was made possible by the enthusiastic support of patrons and the “over-the-top” but much appreciated generosity of numerous individuals, businesses, organizations and churches within our communities.”

Hoffman said a last-minute generous donation by Tamaqua Transfer & Recycling allowed the Pool Pals to not only achieve their goal for 2025, but to beat it by a significant amount.

Tracie Saunders, committee head of the Pool Pal bingo and basket raffle event, thanked those in the community who helped make this year’s event a success.

Since the establishment of the Linda Schoenberger Memorial Swim Fund in 2021, 47 family season passes have been awarded.

With the addition of the 29 awarded for the coming season, the number now stands at 76.