Second annual Lehighton Pool Pals Pre-Teen dance raises food
Pictured with samples of some of the nonperishable food items donated to Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church Pantry courtesy of the recent Lehighton Pool Pals Pre-Teen dance are, from left, Mark Hoffman, president of Lehighton Pool Pals; Susan Lovejoy, Thrivent Financial representative; Diane Hoffman and Denise Murphy, both of Lehighton Pool Pals; Carolyn Long, coordinator of the pantry; and Kim Gerhard, Lehighton Pool Pals. TERRY AHNER/TIMES NEWS
A pre-teen dance hosted by Lehighton Pool Pals has reached even greater heights.
At least, based on the number of kids who attended and the amount of punch they drank.
Mark Hoffman, chairman of Lehighton Pool Pals, said the second annual dance was a “huge success.”
Lehighton Pool Pals encouraged those who attended to bring a nonperishable food item to the dance to be donated to the Trinity Lutheran Church Pantry.
Carolyn Long, coordinator of the pantry, said it serves people in the Lehighton Area School District.
“We serve over 1,000 people each month, 300 of which are children,” Long said. “The amount of food they’ve been getting is unbelievable.”
In total, Long said 125 pounds of food was donated through this year’s dance. More than 50 pounds was donated to the pantry through last year’s event.
Diane Hoffman, a member of the Pool Pals, said this year’s event was a huge success, as 150 people attended.
“We wanted younger children to have joy and fun in their life in a safe environment,” Diane said. “If young people learn that if they get something, there’s so much joy in giving.”
