BY LOU WHEELAND

Special to The Press

Lehigh County’s Office of Aging and Adult Services celebrated May 17 with its 23rd annual tribute to Unsung Heroes at Fellowship Community, Whitehall Township.

The presentations were made by Clayton Reed Jr., executive director of the Office of Aging and Adult Services, county Executive Phillips Armstrong and Secretary of Pennsylvania Department of Aging Jason Kavulich.

According to information provided by the Office of Aging and Adult Services, Joyce and John Ebling of Lower Macungie Township were two of 18 Lehigh County residents and a group of nine people honored as part of the tribute.

This tribute, in honor of Older Americans Month, celebrates older adults in the Lehigh Valley who have displayed exceptional generosity with their time and talents to enrich the lives of others in the community.

During this annual recognition ceremony, each honoree received a certificate from Lehigh County Aging and Adult Services, a certificate from the Pennsylvania Department of Aging, and citations from their local legislators.

They also received a book on the history of Lehigh County, an Unsung Hero pin, and Unsung Hero yard sign and flowers.

According to their tribute written by written by Deborah Fries-Jackson of the Boys and Girls Club of Allentown:

“The Boys and Girls Club of Allentown is honored to nominate the dynamic duo of Joyce Reed-Ebling and John Ebling for the Lehigh County Aging and Adult Services 2023 Unsung Heroes Award.

“Lehigh County has many older Americans who regularly volunteer to help organizations further their missions in very quiet, humble manners.

“Some individuals volunteer at more than one organization. These are the dedicated Unsung Heroes who live among us.

“Joyce and John are truly Unsung Heroes because they have volunteered at numerous organizations for decades, including at the Boys and Girls Club of Allentown, the Salvation Army, Allentown, Toys for Tots, the Andre Reed Foundation, Dieruff High School Alumnae Association, the Miracle League of the Lehigh Valley, and the Lehigh Valley Bills Backers Chapter, to name just a few.

“Joyce had four children and John had four children. When they married 18 years ago, they really became the dynamic “Batman and Robin” duo, searching throughout our community to find ways they could volunteer, often together, and invest their time to help youth in need.

“Joyce has volunteered at the Salvation Army more than 25 years, helping to organize the Christmas Angel Tree Program.

“Joyce creates the tags for the children’s wishes, and helps distribute these to local businesses.

“Joyce and John then pick up these gifts in their “Batmobile” and get them ready for distribution.

“Joyce has volunteered at the Boys and Girls Club of Allentown and worked with our children in our education program called Make Your M.A.R.K.™, designed to improve the literacy and math skills of youth.

“Joyce and John have also assisted with in-kind projects, such as painting the games room at the Sixth Street Clubhouse.

“Joyce and John are active volunteers with the Andre Reed Foundation.

“Andre, an alum of the Boys Club of Allentown, and a Pro Football Hall of Fame recipient, is one of Joyce’s four children.

“Joyce and John volunteer their time and talent at the annual Andre Reed Celebrity Golf Classic, which raises money for the Boys and Girls Club of Allentown, Dieruff High School, and other community organizations.

“It’s unusual to find a husband and wife who volunteer at so many organizations together, later in life.

“They have the passion and energy to get any and every task done.

“Whether they are passing out turkeys, helping at a food stand, raising money at a Lehigh Valley Bills Backer game for the Boys and Girls Club of Allentown, or collecting auction items- you name the task, and they’re ready to help out.

“Three personal characteristics that can best describe Joyce are enthusiasm, a strong belief in helping children, and vivaciousness.

“John can best be described as kind-hearted, dedicated, and quiet with a can-do attitude. If Joyce is considered the Batman of this duo, then John is clearly supporting her as Robin.

“The youth in our community have truly been blessed with their selfless devotion and many acts of service to help others.

“These two Lehigh County residents have led full and productive lives, which include a significant volunteer service, for many decades and we are proud to call them Unsung Heroes!”