Seipstown Grange is part of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry with a strong history in grassroots activism, family values and community service.

Officers are Treasurer Mark Miller; event organizer, previously known as the “lecturer,” Ann Wertman; and Master Brian Wetzel.

For the Class of 2020 of Northwestern Lehigh High School, the grange awards two $1,000 scholarships to students who are furthering their education in the fields of agriculture or environmental sciences.

The grange assists Americans suffering from natural disasters, members with severe medical challenges and local community animal rescue programs.

Members are participating for the 30th year in PennDOT’s Adopt a Highway program picking up litter on eight miles along Route 100 and three miles along Claussville Road.

Participants in that project are Ron and Lyla Derr, Glenn Reeder, Grant and Jill Mertz, Pat Pavelco and Ann Wertman.

On Nov. 8, the fourth annual sharing with the community event took place at the Weisenberg Township Volunteer Fire Company. Eighteen organizations were invited to attend and accept a $1,000 donation.

Recipients were the Snack Pack program overseen by the Christ’s Church at Lowhill Food Pantry and represented by Gloria Zimmerman; Weisenberg Lowhill Historical Society, Gloria Zimmerman, president; Dream Come True, Rayann Vasko, director; Center for Vision Loss, Doug Yingling, director; Salvation Army, Darien Huaman, director of social services and Deirdre Govan resource development manager; and Lynn Heidelberg Historical Society, Neil Oswald, president.

In addition, receiving a donation were the Christ’s Church at Lowhill Food Pantry, represented by Beverly Kistler; Community Fire Company of New Tripoli, Nick Gruber, assistant chief; Weisenberg Fire Department, Matt Krapf, deputy chief; Lynnport Fire Company, Darryl Schafer, president and Tim VanBlargan second assistant chief; Goodwill Fire Company of Germansville, Jay Scheffler, chief.

Cetronia Ambulance Corps, Kim Blichar, director of marketing and public relations; Northern Valley EMS, Frank Alexa, chief; Meals on Wheels of the Greater Lehigh Valley, Phil Hartranft Jr.; Keystone Military Families, Grace Hoppes, volunteer; and Northwestern Lehigh Education Foundation, Daniel Macaulay, board vice president; also received $1,000 checks.

The Fogelsville Fire Company and Allentown Rescue Mission were unable to attend.

Hoppes was noted for coming the longest distance from Shoemakersville. The Northwestern Lehigh Educational Foundation has donated more than $1.3 million to the school district.

Dream Come True fulfills dreams for children with chronic or life threatening illness and has filled more than 1,235 dreams. The Center for Vision Loss supports a tradition of helping the blind and vision impaired begun by Helen Keller.

Cetronia responded to 16,000 emergency calls and 65,000 medical care transport calls in 2018.

Snack Pack provides food for students to take home for weekends. NOVA serves 45,000 residents and visitors to the community focusing on emergency medical services. Keystone Military Families provides a food pantry for Pennsylvania military active duty and reserves serving 1,000 people per year.

The Seipstown Grange was organized in 1915. Early meetings were held in the little red schoolhouse in Seipstown’s Literary Hall, now the township building.

The grange’s home on Claussville Road was completed in 1961 and a Junior Grange was formed in 1966. The hall had to be sold in 2015 due to declining membership and the aging of members. The money is in trust with the State Grange and each year as long as Seipstown is active it can withdraw 10 percent of that trust money.

“We are blessed to be able to continue our rewarding community service which benefits so many worthy groups and local residents,” said Wertman as part of a historical highlights of the Grange.