A family with roots in Emmaus decided to fly back to the Lehigh Valley from Texas to give back to the community to celebrate their matriarch's 80th birthday.

Delores Christman, 79, lives in Emmaus and rented two cabins in Waldheim Park in Allentown for her family's week-long visit to the Lehigh Valley from Justin, Texas. She said in an interview the family had been planning to do community service for three and a half years, along with other events when the family members came to visit. One of her grandchildren, Jonathan Christman, came up with the idea to spruce up Emmaus.

"It was our pleasure to do some manual labor," Delores Christman said.

The family went to see Emmaus's borough manager, Shane Pepe, to ask what sort of work would be fitting for the community. He suggested they help mulch flower beds near borough hall and in Emmaus Triangle Park, which the family did June 15.

Danielle Collins, another of Delores's grandchildren, said their visit was because of the Delores's upcoming milestone birthday.

"That was the idea of the huge get together," Collins said.

The Christmans mulched the flower beds for several hours in the Triangle alongside employees from the borough's Public Works Department, Jason Kleckner and Taylor Schaf. Kleckner said he hopes more families take the Christman's example and help the community as part of their reunions.

"If more people did this, imagine what the community would look like," Kleckner said.

Joel Christman, one of Delores's sons, said the family also spent some time in the Vera Cruz area, where he and his two siblings, Tim and Deb, grew up. The visit also included an IronPigs game and a trip to Knoebels Amusement Resort.

Delores Christman rode all three of the rollercoasters at the park, for what they said was a first-time experience for her.