Christmas in July begins this week in Palmerton - albeit a few weeks late.

Starting today, the Palmerton group Kids for the Community will begin their first toy drive, hosted at Country Harvest on the borough’s Delaware Avenue.

Jennifer Wertman, a Palmerton woman who helped found the group, said she wanted to have the toy drive last month. But even though it’s August, Wertman has high hopes for the five-day drive, which starts Monday and goes until Friday.

Donations will be accepted between 5 and 7 p.m. each day.

Wertman said she always wanted to form something like Kids for the Community, where children in the borough - such as her 6-year-old daughter Zoey Ziegler - would have the chance to serve around their hometown.

The pandemic catalyzed Wertman’s efforts.

“It kind of motivated me,” she said.

So far, Kids for the Community has helped clean and plant flowers in the park and make cards for seniors.

Wertman wants the drive to raise a lot of toys. But she also hopes it puts Palmerton kids on a path toward service.

“I’m hoping that our group gets bigger, and better, and I’m hoping that the kids really love doing it, and they follow this throughout their lifetime - helping other people,” she said.

All donations will be sent to the Christian Action Council of Palmerton Area Churches.