The Palmerton Lions Club will present eightdonations to area nonprofit organizations at "Community Spirit Night onMay 16.

The program is part of the club's 62nd anniversary celebration. The awards will be presented at a special dinner at the Carbon Career & Technical Institute in Jim Thorpe.Recipients are the Aquashicola Fire Company, Blue Ridge Toy and Food Drive, Dream Come True, Palmerton Fire Company, Palmerton West End Fire Company, Palmerton Library, Palmerton Meals on Wheels and CACPAC. The club will also be recognizing a Palmerton High School Leo of the year.According to club President Mark Green, "Money raised at the club's waffle and ice cream stand at the Carbon County Fair held each August, the Palmerton Community Festival held each September, and the Cash Bingo and Basket Raffle held each November, enables the Palmerton Lions to give back to the community we serve, while meeting the pressing needs of several nonprofit organizations."These awards, Green said, are particularly important at a time when cuts in state and federal funding have made a significant impact on the ability of community organizations to survive."Providing these monetary awards truly allows the Palmerton Lions Club to make a difference in our community," Green said.The Palmerton Lions Club was formed in 1954. Members generally meet at 6:30 p.m. on the first Monday of each month at the Palmerton Library on Delaware Avenue in Palmerton, and the third Monday of each month at Simply Something.Lions clubs are groups of men and women who identify needs within the community and work together to fulfill those needs.For more information or to get involved with the Palmerton Area Lions Club, contact Nick Hawkey at 610-824-6490. Lions Clubs International is the world's largest service club organization with more than 1.35 million members in approximately 45,000 clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas around the world.Since 1917, Lions clubs have aided the blind and visually impaired, and made a strong commitment to community service and serving youth throughout the world.For more information about Lions Clubs International, visit

www.lionsclubs.org.