Right about now, the spirts of many families who are less fortunate in the Palmerton Area School District have been uplifted.

They have the Country Harvest Family Market in Palmerton, along with the Christian Action Council of Palmerton Area Churches to thank for it.The three families who own the Country Harvest Family Market have once again donated turkeys and chickens to CACPAC, a ministry of 15 Palmerton Area churches.Richard Nothstein, part-owner, Country Harvest Family Market, said the turkeys and chickens were distributed to St. John's Lutheran Church, in Palmerton, and picked up by the families.As a result, Nothstein said that 210 families who reside in the district will have food on their tables in time for Thanksgiving.Nothstein said the deed was done not only for those families less fortunate, but also in honor of Charlie Silliman, pantry coordinator, CACPAC, who is ill."We're part of the community," Nothstein said. "It's our way to give back, and to experience the joy of giving."During last year's client pickup held at the church, there were 203 households, or 585 people served, on that day alone. Due to the high demand, the group ran out of turkeys and chickens due to the high demand.So, out of the goodness of his heart, Silliman personally went to Country Harvest to pick up additional ones for those who couldn't get them initially.Stanley Haupt, executive director, of the Shepherd House, Inc., of Lehighton, said Carbon County has received $12,226 this year from the Emergency Food and Shelter Program.The Shepherd House Inc., of Lehighton, is the lead agency for the nine food pantries in Carbon County.Last year, the county did not receive funds from the organization after it was deemed not eligible because the government said both the unemployment level and poverty level were below their guidelines.