Special people helping special people.

Annually, the Tamaqua Area Chamber of Commerce chooses people for the Joseph M. Plasko Citizenship Award and has now added a Business Person of the Year.This year's winners, Amanda Woodring and Lynn Elko, share a connection and devotion to helping people with special needs.The two will be feted during the chamber's Annual Community Dinner, which will be held Wednesday at Mountain Valley Golf Course. The chamber is taking reservations for the dinner, which will also feature this year's Community Progress Report Book."You are both people who do things for others and not for themselves," said Chamber Executive Director Linda Yulanavage. "The awards are well-deserved and I'm so proud of both of you."Woodring teaches special education for students from second to fifth grade for the Tamaqua school district. In past years, she has personally provided gifts, food and even Christmas trees for families who need a little help financially to celebrate the holidays. Woodring said that last year, with the cooperation of the school district, she held dances to raise money."I was able to help 10 families with gift cards," Woodring said. "But it's just me being me I was very surprised to learn I had been chosen for the Joseph M. Plasko Citizenship award."Elko is the owner of Emma's Friends Soaps & Lotions, located in the heart of the Tamaqua business district. Elko is the mother of a child with disabilities, Emma, and adults with special needs are employed at the shop."Her decision to locate in downtown Tamaqua has provided much more than just another business," Yulanavage said. "She has taught us that anything is possible."The Joseph M. Plasko Citizenship Award honors the late journalist who was devoted to press coverage of all events in Tamaqua, from general news to sports. The award is based on someone's voluntary contributions to the civic advancement of Tamaqua and the well-being of its residents. The award has been given for 52 years.The Business Person of the Year is a new award, and it's given to someone who has shown interest in advancing the economic, industrial, professional, cultural and civic welfare of the Tamaqua area."We wanted to highlight the impact that a business person can have on the entire community through their hard work and dedication to grow their business, and improve our overall economic outlook," Yulanavage said.To contact the chamber, call 570-668-1880.