Volunteer groups in the Palmerton, Lehighton and Northern Lehigh areas got a much welcomed helping hand from Horsehead Industries.

Eighteen organizations were presented grant awards by Horsehead Community Development Fund recently at the Palmerton Area Library.The fund was incorporated in December of 1989 and the first grants were given out in 1990. Over the 23-year span, 762 grants have been awarded. The fund averages 30 applications a year. To date the Horsehead Community Development Fund has awarded $2,980,494 to local organizations."Dave Carpenter was the first to organize this fund and we are indebted to him for starting this," said James Wimmer, fund president.Wimmer explained that a Challenge Grant is another way the fund helps organizations. This grant is one where the organization raises half of the grant first and the fund gifts the other half. Challenge Grants must be met in one year from application acceptance.Upon presentation each organization's representative was asked to give their name and share what the grant will be used for:• Franklin Township Athletic Association, Tony Christman: help build little league baseball fields.• Lehighton Band, James Blakeslee: sponsoring concerts.• Northern Lehigh Swimming Pool Association, Tess McGown: resurfacing pool.• Palmerton Bandstand Committee, Mata Curran: Sunday night concerts in the park.• Lehighton Area Memorial Library, James Blakeslee: remodeling ceiling, new lighting and windows.• Bowmanstown/Palmerton Baseball/Softball Association, Chris Bush: building another field for games.• Lehigh Gap Nature Center, Dan Kunkle: help sponsor field trips for Palmerton, Lehighton and Northern Lehigh Area schools.• Palmerton Area Recreation Committee, Pam Andrews: offset insurance, craft projects and keeping cost minimal to attend summer program.• Palmerton Area Library Association, Diane Danielson: help with new heating and air-conditioning system.• Palmerton Community Band, Joe Plechavy: help to keep live music alive in the community.• Lehighton Area Pool Pals, Diane Hoffman: help with remodeling the play area in the baby section of the pool.• Meals on Wheels of Palmerton, Darlene Nothstein: purchasing insulated food containers and general yearly costs.• Holiday Decoration Lighting Committee, Joe Federanich: toward new Christmas lighting in the park and future lighting along Delaware Avenue, Palmerton.• Palmerton Memorial Park Association, Vic Jahelka: toward purchase of new diving boards for pool.• Aquashicola Volunteer Fire Company, Chris Jahelka: replace gas-powered pressure fan to electric one.• Palmerton Porpoises Swim Team, Brad Mazuppa: new equipment for team members.• Palmerton Area Basketball Training Program, Gino Roberts: help with costs for 150 children who will be attending the two-week basketball camp this summer.• Palmerton Booster Club, Amy Strohl: new helmets and to help with programs for children.In addition to Wimmer, Horsehead Community Development Fund officers include Vice President Joe Bechtel, secretary/treasurer Bob Kuba; and executive consultant Bill Smelas.