Members of the Jim Thorpe Lions Club presented donations to several charitable organizations during Monday’s meeting at the Inn at Jim Thorpe.

Lions Club President Stacy Gallagher started the meeting off by introducing and presenting $200 checks to representatives of five local groups.“When we hold a fundraiser, the money that we get in, we give back to the community. It helps in the community,” Gallager said.Fairview Hose Company No. 2 Social Club’s president, Donald Mertz II, accepted his agency’s check, explaining that the funding would go toward a Christmas party for local children.“The Fairview Hose Company really appreciates this money,” Mertz said. “We have a free Santa Claus and a free gift for the kids in Jim Thorpe, and it’s open to the public. The Fairview Hose Company has been doing this for a very long time, and hopefully we can continue doing that for years and years and years.”Diligent Fire Company No. 3’s steward, Ken McArdle, also planned on using the Lions Club donation for holiday celebrations for the kids. McArdle said that his company works alongside Mertz’s, allowing for Jim Thorpe children to attend two holiday parties each Christmas.“We appreciate the money,” McArdle said. “We, along with Ed, we’ve been seeing that for years. It goes into the fund, and we do well for that. I’d like to thank all of you for that, for helping the children of the community.”Edward Glassic, representative of the Carbon Schuylkill Marine Corps League Toys for Tots, expressed his gratitude for the long-standing partnership with the Lions.“This is the 11th year that they’ve given to us,” Glassic said. “The first four years was $50, and since then it’s been $100 every year.”“It’s a little bit more than that this year,” Gallagher said with a smile.John Thompson of St. Joseph’s Food Pantry and Pastor Nathanael Kennedy of Shepherd House Food Pantry at Ebenezer Church also received donations.“We greatly appreciate that they give to the community out of their surplus, to help needy families, and that’s what happens for us,” Pastor Kennedy said. “They’re also helping other needy causes, which is a blessing to them, and a blessing to us, too.”