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                Contributed/Lehigh Valley Community Foundation and United Way of the Greater Lehigh ValleyIn the Lehigh Valley, 105,000 people rely on SNAP benefits for food assistance. One in four of them is a child. When federal safety nets falter, the charitable food network becomes the community’s last line of defense. It requires collaboration, leadership and shared purpose.
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                Brian Myszkowski/LehighValleyNews.comAbout 400 Allentown families came to The Salvation Army for The Give Back resource event Wednesday, where they received shelf-stable food, daily necessities, and more, just as federal assistance benefits are about to be cut off.
Lehigh Valley Heart and Vascular Institute now offers treatment for atrial fibrillation (AFib) with a new system that uses pulsed electrical fields to target problematic heart muscle cells instead of extreme heat or cold.
        
        
    Health & Wellness News
    
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                        Lehigh Valley Health Network is launching a clinical trial for a pancreatic cancer vaccine. A handful of hospitals across the country are part of the second phase of the study.
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                        Two well-known health care companies in the Lehigh Valley will continue their relationship for years to come. St. Luke's University Health Network and Capital Blue Cross agreed to continue to work together to insure the hospital network's employees.
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                        The Preventive Measures Foundation awarded $25,000 in community grants to local nonprofits. The money is set to be used for programs that foster mental well-being in both kids and adults.
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                        Coronavirus cases have spiked over the past few weeks — nationally and locally — putting people at risk for long COVID. The condition can have people feeling tired and sick for more than three months.
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                        A listeria outbreak has a major food company recalling deli meats across the county, including here in the Lehigh Valley. An infectious disease doctor explains the signs and symptoms of the foodborne illness.
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                        1 in 4 menstruating students in the Allentown School District have missed class time because of the lack of access to period products. Funding for free menstrual products for students was approved in the 2024-2025 state budget.
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                        The merger of Lehigh Valley Health Network and Jefferson Health is now complete. The two closed the deal Thursday morning, creating a regional hospital system that oversees 30 hospitals and more than 700 outpatient care sites.
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                        The Lehigh County coroner says the average age of people dying from suicide is getting older. He says his office is tracking the data in an effort to provide more outreach efforts.
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                        Deli meat company Boar's Head has recalled 7 million more pounds of meats potentially affected by a listeria outbreak less than a week after the initial recall.
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                        An Easton-area couple brought home numerous medals from the 2024 Transplant Games of America. They are among seven athletes from Northampton and Lehigh counties who participated.
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                        Gov. Josh Shapiro signed a new law that will regulate pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs. It's intended to save local pharmacies from closing and save patients money on prescription medications.
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                        Allentown School District will partner with Valley Health Partners Community Vision Center during the 2024-25 academic year to offer students comprehensive eye exams. More than 2,300 students failed vision tests last year.
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                        The deadline is right around the corner to nominate a veteran for one of the American Red Cross Lehigh Valley Heroes awards. The American Red Cross will once again pay tribute to those who served our country and the community.
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                        A new fellowship soon will be offered to doctors at St. Luke's University Health Network to tie addiction and mental health services together more closely.
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                        Just shy of a mile's worth of abandoned rail line lies in the way of joining the South Bethlehem Greenway with the Saucon Rail Trail. Bethlehem City Council has moved to buy the land along that rail to later facilitate the new connection.
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                        An Allentown resident living with disabilities recently met with Congresswoman Susan Wild to talk about what congress can do to improve services for people like him.
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                        The manufacturer of Giant's store-brand waffles has issued a recall due to potential listeria contamination, the supplier announced on Oct. 18. 2024.
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                        No ID, insurance, or money required, just show up — thanks to a team of volunteer doctors who will be offering their services to the public Oct. 19-20 in Allentown.
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                        Lehigh Valley Health Network teamed up with Spirit Halloween for their annual Halloween party. More than 200 children came to celebrate.
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                        Easton Area Neighborhood Center has selected Alison Czapp, a local food and antipoverty advocate, as the new executive director of their organization.
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                        Ryan Stehlik, a longtime patient of Shriners Children's Philadelphia, will represent the hospital this weekend at the Shriners Children's Open, a PGA golf tournament in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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                        An IV shortage due to hurricanes in the south has B.Braun ramping up production. The Allentown company is hiring more employees to produce more medical equipment amid the shortage.
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                        The city is also set to receive $5.7 million in federal funds to reduce lead-based paint hazards.
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                        In their seventh annual event, Beards for Breasts raised thousands of dollars for cancer patient support programming via an auction where the prize was the chance to shave men's beards at an Easton pub on Oct. 15, 2024.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
