The Tamaqua Area Chamber of Commerce recently welcomed students from Temple University Kornberg School of Dentistry to Tamaqua with special welcome bags filled with gifts and information from businesses and organizations throughout the community.

The welcome-bag initiative was organized and coordinated by Tamaqua Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Aimee Dotson, who reached out to local businesses, organizations and community partners and brought every one together to make the welcome possible.

“I was so excited to have the opportunity to meet the students and personally welcome them to Tamaqua,” Dotson said. “These students are here not only to further their education, but to provide an important service to our community. I wanted them to know from the very beginning that they are welcome here and that we are grateful they chose to become part of Tamaqua.”

Dotson said the response from the community was tremendous, with businesses and organizations eager to participate.

“I cannot thank everyone enough for their generosity,” Dotson said. “It was wonderful to see so many people come together to welcome these students. I wanted them to see right away that Tamaqua is a community that cares, and I think our local businesses really showed that.”

In addition to the Chamber, the following businesses, organizations and community partners welcomed the Temple students:

Explore Schuylkill, United Disability Services, Coolbreeze Imaging, Dr. Banning, The Vince Boyle Team — Century 21 Ryon Real Estate, Tamaqua Area Community Partnership, Gimbel’s Restaurant, Perla Gym, ABC Tamaqua Hi-Rise, Tamaqua Station Restaurant, Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, Lehigh Carbon Community College, state Sen. David Argall, Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce, The Village at Houser’s Crossing, St. Luke’s and Gigi’s Ice Cream.

The Chamber hopes the welcome bags will encourage the students to explore Tamaqua and the surrounding region, patronize local businesses, attend community events and become familiar with the people and places that make the area unique.

“We want these students to know that Tamaqua is more than just where they go to school,” Dotson said. “We hope they explore our downtown, eat at our restaurants, shop locally, enjoy our events and discover everything Schuylkill County has to offer. Most importantly, we hope they feel at home here.”

Dotson also expressed her appreciation to the community leaders and Temple representatives who joined in welcoming the students.