The Lehighton Area Pool Pals is offering free pool passes to 25 families who meet financial criteria. The deadline to apply is April 1.

Applications can be found at the Pool Pal website lehightonareapoolpals.org. Those families chosen to receive a family pass will be notified shortly after April 1. If the family already purchased a season pass, they will be reimbursed.

Mark Hoffman, chairman of Lehighton Area Pool Pals, noted that volunteers spent their St. Patty’s Day holding a gift card bingo event at the Lehighton Recreation Center.

Hoffman said the turnout of 200-plus patrons supporting the event was so great that event organizer Tracie Saunders was forced to place a “sold out” sign on the door a few minutes before the event was scheduled to begin.

The event raised $8,424.

“Even more important is the fact that with this added money, the Pool Pals will be able to provide 25 local families meeting the criteria with a season pass to our beautiful community pool,” said Hoffman, who shared this was the most money ever raised at one single event in the 19-year history of the Pool Pals.

Hoffman said that last year the Pool Pals provided 14 families with a season pass, and set a goal of exceeding this amount by at least one this year. “Knowing there will be 25 passes awarded in 2024, far exceeding their goal, it is safe to say they blew their goal out of the water,” he said.

Including the 25 passes this year, 47 passes have been awarded to families since the establishment of the Linda Schoenberger Memorial swim fund in 2021.

“Tracie also wanted everyone to know that based on the overwhelming success of this year’s St. Patty’s Day bingo, the Pool Pals are looking to make this an annual event,” he said.

Pool Pals thanked those who donated to the event including: Pam Gothard ReMax Realty, Bronson Bike Rentals, Iron Valley Real Estate, Tractor Supply, L.G. Management, Lehighton Outdoor Center, Mauch Chunk Trust Co., Lehighton Fast Fill, Orioles Nest, Vista Fuel, Woodstone Country Club, Sapore’s Italian Restaurant, Little Helping Hands Day Care, Home Comfort Solutions, Central Lunch, Lehighton Kia, Deet’s Cuts and Curls, Krysten Solt Photography, First Commonwealth Federal Credit Union, Rapa Law Office, Perfect Balance Boutique, Within Harmony, Opulent Wellness, Verona’s Pizza, Weis Markets, Giant Foods, Mallard Markets, Boulevard Drive In, Fritz Lanes, Tommy’s Subs, The Spa at the Y, Broadway Grille, Bobbi Jo’s Beauty Bar, Lehighton Borough, Russell Schoenberger, Beacon Diner, Jaindl Turkey Farm, Zimmerman’s Ice Tea, Thrivent Financial Services, Cindy’s Deli, Inkglorious Tattoo Studio, Molly Maguires Pub, Lorenzo’s Italian Restaurant, Shawn Kresge, The Rogue Trader Gaming, Lehighton Downtown Initiative, McDonalds, R.F. Ohls, Bambi Dream Team Destinations, Styling Zone, Danette Troxell Keller Williams Reality, Alfies Pizzeria, Ouros, Cypress Lanes, Antonio’s Pizza, Rustic Roots, Nocturnal Tattoo, Pizza Como, Bri’s Bargain Boutique, Lehighton Kia, Chelsey Hoffman/Yasmine Rodway, Simple Suds and More, Steph Slinger, Tiff Snyder, Rebecca Worthy, Big Creek Winery, Robbie’s Balloons and more, Broadway Grille, Myst and Lehighton Walmart.