Towamensing Township’s board of supervisors presented a donation to benefit the Valor Clinic Foundation during Thursday’s meeting.

Veteran outreach coordinator Mike Meining was on hand to accept $2,000 from the board, presented by Vice Chairman Thomas Newman.

Meining took some time to explain how much the funding means to the organization, which provides various services for veterans, including accommodations at Paul’s House in Jonas, supplies for the homeless, move-in assistance and life skills development programs.

“It’s fantastic. If it wasn’t for organizations like Towamensing Township giving us the necessary funding to do what we do, we wouldn’t be able to do it. We’re all volunteers, and it takes quite a bit of funding to keep everything running,” Meining said.

Keeping up with the cost of supplies and services can be a difficult task, Meining said, but it is necessary to help out those who have served.

“Our box truck, for instance, we probably spend $8,000 a year on diesel fuel just to run it around to our stand downs and provide moving assistance for the veterans. So, there’s huge expenses involved with supporting everything we do. The main focus is to support homeless and needy veterans reassimilate back into society.”

Newman said that the idea to contribute to Valor and help the veterans was an easy decision, as it is something that he took to heart during his own service.

“I’m a retired lieutenant colonel in the Marines, and he was a sergeant in the Marines,” Newman said, pointing to Supervisor Guy Seifert. “That’s our job. Take care of the troops, that’s the first thing we learned.”

In other business

The historical commission is actively seeking new members, as well as those interested in serving in leadership roles. Meetings are held at 7 p.m. on the fourth Thursday of the month at the township’s municipal building.

The supervisors accepted a letter of thanks from Palmerton Area Library Director Diane Danielson, which recognized their contribution of $4,000 to the library. Newman said that as the residents of Towamensing Township used the library, they felt it was only right to contribute and help promote education and literacy.