Whitehall Township has recognized persons for their achievements on occasion, but the ceremony at the opening of the board of commissioners meeting June 12 was extra-special - it was a tribute to 8-year-old Cortney Bordner for putting others before herself.

Prior to her eighth birthday, Cortney approached her parents, Nadine and David Bordner, of Egypt, telling them she didn’t want to receive any presents but would prefer instead to have donations made to Whitehall Area Hunger Initiative’s Snack Pack Pals program.

Cortney, a rising third-grade student at Steckel Elementary School, said birthday presents are fine, but having people donate to the Snack Pack Pals project would be much more rewarding than receiving a present.

The Snack Pack Pals program distributes food over long weekends during the school year to Whitehall- Coplay School District students who are in need. Donations come from residents and community and civic groups. The food items are organized and packaged for the students in the Whitehall-Coplay Middle School cafeteria.

Cortney, a petite youngster with an engaging smile, said she has seen girls and boys at her school in need of food and felt she could offer a little bit of help.

The birthday donation idea exploded into action as huge amounts of food and money poured in, including at Whitehall Township Public Library, where two pickup trucks of food were loaded for delivery to the schools.

Mayor Edward D. Hozza Jr. presented a citation to Cortney, who was given a standing ovation from the crowd attending the meeting. She also received personal handshakes from each of the seven commissioners.

“Cortney’s project was a huge success,” Hozza said. “She is a special girl.”

Cortney has already told her parents she would like to repeat the donation idea for her next birthday.