The Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley's Super Sunday phone-a-thon in January raised $71,500 in one day.

More than 130 volunteers came to the Allentown Jewish Community Center to support people in need bringing in the 40-percent increase in donations over last year.

Telephone calls were made to members of the Jewish community for money to support local agencies such as the Jewish Community Center, Jewish Day School, Jewish Family Service; for Hurricane Sandy relief, for Jewish communities around the world and in Israel; and humanitarian relief efforts internationally.

Federation volunteers represent all parts of the Valley Jewish community from Easton to Allentown.

Students from Lehigh University, Lafayette and Muhlenberg colleges also joined the local community in making calls on behalf of the campaign, and teens from area youth groups were on hand to make thank-you calls to donors who had already pledged their support to the federation's annual fundraising effort.

Newly-elected Congressman Matt Cartwright, D-17th, attended the fundraiser and Congressman Charlie Dent, R-15th, was on hand to read a PJ Library story (bedtime stories) to the children about the value of giving.

The PJ Library is a combined effort of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation and the Jewish community to provide free books every month to Jewish children in the Lehigh Valley ages 6 months through 8 years.

Local sponsors who donate money to the PJ Library are the Jewish Community Center, the Jewish Day School, The Jewish Federation, the Wax Family Foundation, Bobby and Bonnie Hammel, and the Jean Wiener Foundation.

Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski was also a reader, along with state Rep. Mike Schlossberg, D-132nd.

Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan and Easton Mayor Sal Panto greeted their constituents, along with state Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, R-134th, and state Rep. Gary Day, R-187th.

"It was a huge showing of support for the Jewish community and everything that we do," said Mark L. Goldstein, executive director of the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley. "Our elected officials know what an important role our community plays in the greater Lehigh Valley, and their presence was indicative of that."