Students in the Northern Lehigh School District will continue to be well-nourished thanks to a generous donation.

Superintendent Dr. Matthew J. Link recognized several organizations for their donations at Monday’s school board meeting.

“Again this year, a very strong school district partner, the Lehigh Valley Educators Credit Union, has decided to step up and support the school district’s effort to support any of our students and families that may be experiencing meal insecurity,” Link said. “I’m so happy to share again this year that he Lehigh Valley Educators Credit Union is donating $10,000 to the Northern Lehigh School District Backpack Buddies program.”

Link said that will fund the program for nearly the entire year.

“So when you have local businesses, local community partners that see the value in helping children, and helping their families, you’re in a pretty good place,” he said. “They’ve done this for the past seven, eight, nine years, so we’re very fortunate to be able to work with the Lehigh Valley Educators Credit Union.”

Director Gary Fedorcha, who sits on the Lehigh Valley Educators Credit Union board, thanked its members and the credit union for their continued support.

Link then asked Fedorcha to express the district’s appreciation to the Lehigh Valley Educators Credit Union board.

Anonymous gift of $1,000 made to program

Also on Monday, Link noted that late last week an anonymous donor gave another check in support of the district Backpack Buddies program in the amount of $1,000.

“Very, very generous,” Link said. “This is an individual person that said, ‘I believe in this program so much that I’m going to donate $1,000.’ So to that person out there, thank you so much for supporting our students and their families to make sure that they are not struggling with meal security, especially through the winter months and through the holiday season.”

Wheelchairs donated

Link also recognized Dennis Sholtis, a community member who works closely with first responders in Washington Township. He donated three wheelchairs to the district to go into its nurse offices across its four buildings.

“So now we’ll have more than one wheelchair in each school building,” Link said. “Again, just very generous. He called me and just said, ‘Dr. Link, I’d like to donate these, they’re brand-new, or near brand-new,’ and the first place he thought of was the nurses in the Northern Lehigh School District. So Mr. Sholtis, thank you for your generosity as well.”