It may be hot and humid outside, but it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas at the Carbon Chamber and Economic Development Corporation office in Lehighton.

From 5:30 to 7 p.m. July 30, the CCEDC will be decked out with everything Christmas and spreading some holiday cheer in the middle of summer during its Christmas in July networking event.Executive Director Marlyn Kissner said the event will provide opportunities for businesses and residents to mingle, enjoy a Christmas cookie or two and a visit from Santa, who will be sporting his offseason attire a Hawaiian shirt.The organization will also be selling Christmas mugs with proceeds helping the group provide additional services to the county.There will also be representatives from the Carbon County Art League on hand to show off some of their pieces that are hanging around CCEDC's office. All paintings are available for purchase.In addition, CCEDC is using this event to help the hungry of the county.Alice Wanamaker, member relations director, said the CCEDC plans to partner with an area food pantry and is asking people who attend to bring either a nonperishable food item or monetary donation."A lot of people think about donating in November and December, but we all know how it is to stock the shelves all year-round," Wanamaker said. "Food donations are especially important now because they get low in the summer when people go away on vacation. We want to help stock things up in Carbon County.""People forget about food drives in the summer," Kissner said, "but there are people out there who are really hungry, so we are trying to help feed them."Kissner said that all chamber members, as well as any person interested in joining the chamber or who would like to get more involved on committees are invited to the event.The CCEDC Lehighton office is located at 137 South St., Lehighton.