Catasauqua Communities That Care members discussed their goals during the Oct. 9 meeting.

Lois Reed, Catasauqua Community Cares Program coordinator, reported the group is starting to plan for the Christmas holiday. There are approximately 100 students who receive weekend backpacks of food items. Schools will be closed for two weeks for this year’s holiday, so C3P will need a lot of food items to ensure the families have enough.

In addition, to assist in supporting economically disadvantaged students, C3P is holding a winter coat drive. C3P has been collecting coats, hats and gloves for students which will be distributed Nov. 16.

Reed noted they usually need youth boys and adult sizes. Donation bins are available in the district administration board room, 201 N. 14th St.

According to Reed, the group generally has between 175 and 200 coats for the annual distribution to district families in need. She also noted Whitehall Area Rotary Club gives a number of coats, and Holy Trinity Memorial Lutheran Church is a big supporter of the effort.

C3P is funded through donations and fundraising efforts.

Regarding efforts to decrease drug and alcohol usage in the district, Amy Dymond-Jones, Catasauqua Middle School counselor and CTC coordinator, reported they are working to bring vaping presentations to students. After exploring the Pennsylvania Youth Survey data, the coalition members decided to focus on education efforts regarding vaping.

Dymond-Jones also reported Catasauqua Area School District students were taking the PASS survey in October. PASS stands for Pupil Attitudes to Self and School.

It was asked if the CTC members could have access to that data as well, in order to compare the PASS data to the PAYS data.

Dymond-Jones also described what the CMS weekly Olweus program class meetings look like. Olweus is an anti-bullying program offered in the district.

She reported the district continues to offer the CBITS and Bounce Back programs to help students who may have experienced trauma.

It also noted the Center for Humanistic Change mentor is looking to add a bilingual option for families. Dymond-Jones said it would most likely be Spanish. It was asked how many of the district families are Spanish speakers. Dymond-Jones said she would look into those numbers.

The next Catasauqua CTC meeting is set for 7:30 a.m. Dec. 11 in the district administration board room.