The next step in the process to raise money to purchase new decorations for the Palmerton Borough Park has been put into motion.

A donation form has been sent out to households, businesses, and organizations within the Palmerton area to solicit community support to help underwrite the cost to purchase new decorations for the borough park in time for Christmas.To expedite the process, several members of the Palmerton Holiday Lighting Committee met inside borough hall Wednesday evening to stuff envelopes, which were mailed out Thursday, according to committee chairman Joe Federanich.Federanich said mailings were made to Aquashicola, Bowmanstown, Kunkletown, Lehighton, and Palmerton area homes all within the Palmerton Area School District. About 1,800 people are expected to get their solicitation as part of their quarterly sewage and water bill from the borough, at which time the committee will make additional donation forms available at the three banks in town, the Palmerton Area Library, and the Palmerton Memorial Pool.Federanich said residents who do not receive a donation form, and would like to contribute, can mail their donations to Holiday Lighting Committee, 410 Delaware Ave. Palmerton, Pa. 18071. Those who send in a donation will receive a thank-you letter, he said.Earlier this month, the committee agreed to go with 29 silhouette snowflake lights, which will appear around the park along Third Street, Fourth Street, and Lafayette Avenue, as well as colored string lights.The committee will await returns before it orders the lights, Federanich said.The lights around the park along Delaware Avenue are expected to be ready by Christmas of 2014.The committee plans to host a December in the Park event on Saturday, Dec. 7, from noon to 5 p.m.At a Palmerton Chamber luncheon in March, Federanich said the borough would like to have new Christmas decorations throughout its downtown by 2014. The town committee was formed to pick the decorations, and help raise money to afford them.Palmerton Area Chamber of Commerce president Peter Kern previously noted that the original decorations were put up in the 1990s, and refurbished about 10 years ago.The committee will next meet at 7 p.m. Aug. 7.