The Rotary Club of Allentown, Allentown West and Emmaus recently received a grant from Rotary District 7430 to purchase $9,500 worth of beds for the Sixth Street Shelter, Allentown.

The Sixth Street Shelter is a program of the Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley.

As part of the District Simplified Grant, the three Rotary clubs contributed a collective $5,000, which is met with an additional $4,500 from Rotary District 7430 for the total of $9,500.

The beds are expected to be installed later this year.

"We are proud that we were able to have our contribution combined and leveraged with Allentown West Rotary and Emmaus Rotary," Jonathan Epstein, 2012-2013 president of the Allentown Rotary Club, said. "With the added support from our district, this project will make a real difference in the lives of people from who use the Sixth Street Shelter from throughout the Lehigh Valley.

"Helping the people of downtown Allentown has always been a focus of the Allentown Rotary Club, and we are glad to have the support of this grant to continue to serve Allentown."

Director of the Sixth Street Shelter Jessica R. Dreistadt commented on the donation.

"The Sixth Street Shelter and our residents are very grateful to our local Rotary Clubs for their help in purchasing new beds for our apartments," Dreistadt said. "These beds are safer than what we currently have and will help to prevent bed bug infestations.

"This will save us money over time and will help us provide a safer environment for our families."

The Allentown Rotary Club is one of the first 125 charters of Rotary International.

It is a diverse group of professionals representing individuals and businesses throughout the Lehigh Valley.

Rotary International is a worldwide membership organization of over 1.3 million business and professionals who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations and help build goodwill and peace throughout the world.

More information about The Allentown Rotary Club may be found at allentownrotary.org.