Several Northern Lehigh area organizations are set to receive grants courtesy of the Rotary Club of Slatington.

The club will award a total of $8,600 in community grants to the Northern Lehigh Recreation Authority, Slatington Public Library, Walnutport Playground Association, Lehigh Gap Nature Center, Walnutport Canal Association, Northern Lehigh Food Bank and the Northern Lehigh Swimming Pool Association.

Eric Heiney, vice president of the Rotary Club of Slatington, noted the group recently voted in favor of the grant awards.

Heiney said the Northern Lehigh Recreation Authority will receive $2,500 to assist with the expenses associated with coordinating and operating a myriad community programs and events, most of which are at no cost to the community, and added they will host a summer recreation program for the kids this year.

He said the Slatington Public Library will get $2,500 to replace three iMac computers, as the library offers free computer use and internet to the community, for which the donation will partially fund these computers.

Heiney said the Walnutport Playground Association will receive $1,100 for batting cage repairs, as currently there are holes that hit balls travel out of and can hit people, and this donation will fully fund this project. Additionally, this will also be used as a community service project for six Northern Lehigh School District students who will attend the Slatington Rotary Club sponsored Camp Neidig on Saturday, as the Interact Club campers the club is sponsoring need to complete a community service project that afternoon to fulfill their Neidig requirements. Due to the pandemic, the camp will be virtual, as students will partake in online leadership classes, and after their classes, they will be volunteering at the Walnutport Playground.

He said the Lehigh Gap Nature Center, where the club hosts its summer meetings, will get $1,000 to cover the cost to develop and print brochures focused on promoting ecological literacy, adding they will be using these brochures as educational guides when LGNC educators and volunteers are not available to meet with guests.

Heiney said the Walnutport Canal Association will see $500, which will help them to repair missing and broken roof slates on the Locktender House.

He said Northern Lehigh Food Bank will receive $500, adding they help feed 500 people a month.

Lastly, Heiney said the Northern Lehigh Swimming Pool Association will get $500, and despite the fact the pool will not open this year, this will help them cover operating costs.

“As we are nearing the hopeful end of the COVID shutdown, the Rotary Club of Slatington believes awarding grants to these seven organizations will positively impact our community’s revival,” Heiney said. “Each of these nonprofits provides needed resources to achieve a return to normality, and are important for the growth of our region.”