The Diocese of Allentown has announced that 15 programs and agencies have been awarded Poverty Relief Fund grants totaling $95,000. The money is allocated from the proceeds of the Poverty Relief Fund collection taken up in the 94 parishes of the diocese in the third weekend of November.

Applications for grants came from 18 agencies or programs and totaled more than $173,000, much more money than was collected.Recipients in our area include:• $2,500 to Sacred Heart Church, Palmerton to operate a homeless shelter as part of the Family Promise Initiative in Carbon County.• $5,000 to St. Peter the Fisherman, Lake Harmony to purchase food for the parish food pantry.• $8,000 for Servants to All, a homeless shelter planned for Pottsville. The money is payable when the shelter is scheduled to open.• $1,500 for Carbon Copy Prime Time/Our Lady of Lourdes, Weatherly to provide food baskets for the needy.The 2015 Poverty Relief Fund collection will be taken up in all churches in the Diocese on Nov. 21 and 22.