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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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                        The Lehigh Valley Topper Cancer Institute named its immunotherapy center in honor of philanthropists Peter and Odete Kelly, who gifted the institute $12 million on Tuesday.
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                        Organizers give residents food staples and dignity at a resource rally at the Salvation Army in Allentown on Wednesday.
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                        Current property owner Lehigh University and St. Luke’s have arranged a sale agreement for the former St. John's Windish Evangelical Lutheran Church at 617 E. Fourth St., according to a joint news release from the two entities.
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                        Lehigh University and Good Shepherd Rehabilitation are collaborating to create a more successful connection between rehabilitation applications and improvement for individuals with a range of injuries and conditions.
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                        The Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development is providing funding to assist the international medical equipment company in growing its apprenticeship program and boosting production.
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                        JOSHWAY, a local youth-focused nonprofit organization, is holding the community event Saturday. Registration is required.
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                        Second Harvest Food Bank of the Lehigh Valley received a $35,000 donation from The Giant Company.
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                        A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at David and Jackie Jaindl Family Birth and Newborn Center at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest.
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                        One of more than 300 indoor pickleball locations nationwide will plant roots in Whitehall Township. The Lehigh Valley's first Pickleball Kingdom is expected to open in mid-November.
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                        The machine is available 24/7 and is located outside the Lehigh Conference of Churches at 457 W. Allen St. in Allentown.
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                        Community Bike Works received more than $600,000 from the Lehigh Valley Transportation Study to fund its bicycle safety and repair program for students in the Lehigh Valley.
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                        In an email, Allentown School District said mold spores were found in several elementary school classrooms. Remedial action has been taken, the district said in a release, and the classrooms will be tested ahead of the first day of school.
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                        There's often a spike in respiratory viruses and other illnesses as children head back into the classroom. A local infectious disease specialist is urging parents to take preventive measures despite vaccine fatigue.
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                        An eight-year-old girl dealing with a congenital heart condition cut the ribbon at Lehigh Valley Zoo to announce the American Heart Association of Greater Lehigh Valley and Berks County annual Heart Walk in September.
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                        “A Community Conversation: Path to a Healthier Valley” starts at 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 22, and can also be watched streaming online on PBS39.org. The hourlong program touches on efforts to make the region a so-called "Blue Zone."
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                        The health of the Lehigh Valley is improving, but there is room to grow according to health experts. They are sharing where residents need to do better and how to get there.
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                        A cheaper, needle-free alternative to the EpiPen will soon be available following FDA approval. Neffy is a epinephrine nasal spray that can treat anaphylaxis.
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                        The CDC has reported over 400 cases of salmonella across 31 states and the District of Columbia, including 60 cases in Pennsylvania.
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                        Lehigh Valley Health Network and Jefferson Health merged to become a regional provider on August 1st. The law firm that helped seal the deal explains what went into making that happen.
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                        The American Red Cross and Miller-Keystone Blood Bank are urging people to give blood to avoid a critically low situation. A summer slump and severe weather has impacted donations.
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                        She was a choreographer for M.C. Hammer asked to pitch in at Musikfest, while he was behind the wheel for her journey. A Northampton couple shares their story about finding love at MusikFest.
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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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                        A free health clinic set for Allentown this fall needs volunteers. Medical providers and those willing to setup and break down are in need to help those who need services.
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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.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
