Catasauqua Main Streets is continuing its efforts of teaming up with other organizations to enrich the borough. It is working with Holy Trinity Memorial Lutheran Church for a Hearts of Catasauqua initiative to honor the Catasauqua police and fire departments.

The program allows residents, businesses and churches to purchase and place a heart on their property to show support for local first responders. The heart designs come with a choice of color: red, blue, yellow or green. A purchaser may have a simple heart mounted on a 2-inch-by-2-inch post or the same heart on a cross.

There is a freewill donation with a suggestion of $10 per heart. All proceeds will benefit the police and fire departments.

Purchasers can order and pick up their hearts 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesdays during May at Holy Trinity, 604 Fourth St. The hearts can also be ordered and picked up Friday evenings during the summer concerts at Catasauqua Park and Playground, 501 American St.

The Hearts of Catasauqua initiative is more than a fundraising effort for the police and fire departments. It also is a statement about the community connection to the police and fire departments and their valued assistance to the community.

Kim Brubaker, Catasauqua Main Streets leader and borough council member, and Holy Trinity Pastor Brian Riedy, reject division in the community and see the Catasauqua community as an opportunity to value all in the borough. Their actions and cooperation to make Catasauqua better speak louder than words, which is how they want it. Their benevolent activities truly come from the heart.

The heart is a powerful and multifaceted symbol, most famously representing love, affection and emotion. However, its symbolism extends beyond romantic love, encompassing life, compassion, understanding and even spiritual connection across various cultures and beliefs.

Main Streets is linked with Catasauqua American Legion by assisting with the Hometown Heroes program, helping the borough street department with planting and watering flowers and holding periodical town cleanup events with the assistance of other organizations.

It is also now aligned with Historical Catasauqua Preservation Association, which allows donations to Main Streets to be covered under 501(c)(3) rules.