The Palmerton Community Festival accepted a generous contribution from Befesa Zinc US Inc. this week.

The zinc reclaiming company presented festival organizers with a $5,000 donation Tuesday afternoon in the borough park.

Jodi Smale, festival secretary/co-chair, said that the festival committee is grateful to Befesa.

“The festival committee is very thankful for the sponsorship given by Befesa,” Smale said. “This allows us to bring in our top quality entertainment as well as utilize the funds for other expenditures.

“The community festival is dedicated to helping make improvements in the community, and these funds will also support our most recent project which is the new LED lighting placed at the intersections of all pedestrian crosswalks surrounding the park. Patron safety is of utmost concern when people are frequenting the park for the festival as well as other activities and this upgrade of the lights will make pedestrians more visible.”

Shane Serfass, maintenance manager, Befesa, said the organization does its best to assist the community.

“Befesa always tries to help out by being engaged with the community,” Serfass said. “It benefits our community.”

Serfass added that he’s attended the festival since he was a kid.

“It’s just a staple,” he said. “It’s a place to come out and see old friends.”

This year’s festival runs Sept. 6-8 in the borough park.