Several local nonprofit organizations are working at the Carbon County Fair throughout the week so they can donate their proceeds to local charities.

Many of the local area Lions Clubs are in attendance at the fair and have been every year since its inception, as well as local church groups.Jerusalem Lutheran Church in Trachsville has been at the fair every year since it started.The volunteers at the stand from the church are selling beef and chicken barbecue, macaroni salad, drinks, hot dogs and filling. The homemade filling and barbecue are popular with fair visitors."It's for the church, for the atmosphere," volunteer Pat Dwinell said.The church's stand has about seven people working shift with a total of three shifts per day throughout the whole week of the fair."It's really all about community service," Kim Ottinger said.The volunteers always have a good time working together and serving food. "We're a really social group," says Joan Greene. "It's a lot of fun. Cooking together is a riot," Dwinell said.All the proceeds go to various organizations at the church.The Palmerton Area Lions Club has also been at the fair every year. They are selling waffles and ice cream and hand-dipped ice cream.Member George Unangst says the best part about volunteering is "being grateful to all the people who help."All the money raised during the week at the fair is donated to local charities, including fire companies and Dream Come True."Sometimes we give more than we got," Unangst said.Many fairgoers see the value in buying food from these organizations."We like buying it because you know it's for a good thing," said Erin Snyder of Palmerton, who bought the waffles and ice cream Wednesday night from the Palmerton Lions.The Lehighton Area Lions and Lionesses work much for charity as well. At the fair they sell homemade strawberry shortcake with fresh strawberries, homemade brownies for hot fudge Sundays, and Zimmerman's products, to which they attest are the "cheapest on the Midway."The Lehighton Lions and Lionesses work for the vision impaired and their proceeds go to help people who cannot afford glasses. They are also training a Seeing Eye dog, and the money from the fair sales will go to that as well."It's nice meeting people who you only see at fair time, from one year to another," said Lioness Betty Wagner.Peg Alberici agrees, "It's nice meeting all the people who stop by."The Bowmanstown/Parryville Lions Club makes bean soup, sausage sandwiches, hot dogs, cheeseburgers and hamburgers.They are one of the few stands to sell Moxie.Their proceeds also go to Lions International along with local groups such as fire companies."We like seeing all the people knowing that we're doing a good thing," said Albina Engle.The theme of service runs strong throughout these groups, and the homemade food and pleasant atmosphere is not to be missed.