Community Corner

Spirit of the Lehigh Valley Alive and Well

More than 100 volunteers come out to Fogelsville Holiday Inn to wrap gifts for needy.

For the 19th year, volunteers descended upon the in Fogelsville for the Spirit of the Lehigh Valley gift wrapping and baking event.

Coordinator John Lowe said the tradition, started by Kostas Karagaropolous, will help more than 4.000 needy people Saturday when they are served a Christmas Eve dinner and everyone leaves with a present.

"What we do is partner with companies like Nestle Waters, the Marine Corps Toys for Tots, Jaindl Farms, the Allentown Toy Co., Cops and Kids and the Salvation Army," Lowe said.

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"We open up the ballroom and serve 600 to 700 people at a time until we've served about 4,500 people. It's something to feed the less fortunate and brighten their spirits," Lowe said.

Lowe said the adults will leave with some necessities and the kids with one or two toys.

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Rose and Brian Hoke of Topton said they welcomed the opportunity to help out.

"We heard about this through my brother-in-law who works at Nestle and we're glad to have the opportunity to help," Rose Hoke said.


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