Lehighton's Family Career and Community Leaders of America paid it forward this spring by donating fundraising money toward two local causes within the Lehighton Area School district.

Family Promise of Carbon County, located in Lehighton, was one of the recipients. The agency provides housing assistance and temporary shelter to homeless and low income families. They also provide essential services to the families they serve such as counseling, job assistance, and meals. Family promise works with the families to ensure that they are on the path to self-sufficiency and independence.The second recipient, Team Emmitt, has a personal connection with FCCLA through one of its members, Carlee Young.Young is an officer of the middle school's eighth-grade chapter. Her 2-year-old nephew, Emmitt Spearman, has been battling neuroblastoma cancer, stage 4. The family has been traveling back and forth to New York City and Philadelphia Children's Hospital for treatments and surgery for Emmitt.The students wanted to help defer some of the costs the family has had to endure in their travels, deciding to donate some of the funds raised this year to Carlee's family. The students felt a special pride that the money they raised will be going directly toward families in the Lehighton school district community and specifically toward one of their own FCCLA members.