The CAN DO Student Action Committee once again rallied the Greater Hazleton community in support of local service members through its 21st annual Operation: CAN DO initiative. The students capped off this year’s campaign by delivering dozens of donated items to the Freeland American Legion Post 473 for distribution to more than 130 troops stationed away from home this holiday season.
Launched in early October, Operation: CAN DO is a joint initiative between the Freeland American Legion Post 473 and CAN DO’s Student Action Committee. The program assembles holiday care packages for service members from the Greater Hazleton area, filled with personal care items, snacks, and entertainment generously provided by local schools and industries.
This year’s drive was led by event co-chairs Ariamdalys Ramos Alvarez, a senior, and Yevhennii Hradil, a junior from the Hazleton Area Academy of Sciences. Under their leadership, members of the Student Action Committee used a variety of outreach efforts and communication channels to encourage donations and engage schools and industries in the initiative. CAN DO and its Student Action Committee are grateful for the community’s support and continued enthusiasm for keeping the holiday drive successful year after year.
Freeland American Legion Post 473 Commander Gerry Gaffney shared his appreciation, saying, “These packages remind our men and women overseas that they are remembered and valued. We remain incredibly appreciative of CAN DO and the students who put so much heart into this project. Year after year, this effort grows stronger, and it means the world to those receiving these packages.”
Support for this year’s drive came from a wide range of local businesses, including Alphia, American Eagle, Fairway Chevrolet, Graham Packaging, Henkel, Ingram Micro Inc., Leviat, Nestle Health Science, Polyglass USA, Service Electric Cablevision, and State Representative Dane Watro’s Office.
The Student Action Committee also extended special thanks to the many local schools that supported the effort, including Freeland Elementary/Middle School, Hazleton Area Academy of Science, Hazleton Area Arts & Humanities Academy, Hazleton Area High School, Hazleton Elementary/Middle School, Hazle Township Early Learning Center, Heights-Terrace Elementary/Middle School, Maple Manor Elementary/Middle School, Marian Catholic High School, McAdoo-Kelayres Elementary/Middle School, MMI Preparatory School, Valley Elementary/Middle School, and Weatherly Area High School.
Looking ahead, the CAN DO Student Action Committee will continue its community engagement efforts through three upcoming holiday events in Downtown Hazleton: the 32nd Annual CAN DO Community Christmas on Wednesday, December 3rd at 6 PM; the 5th Annual CAN DO Community Park Tree Lighting; as well as DHAP’s Wassailfest & Downtown Hazleton’s Holiday Night Market on Friday, December 5th at 4:30 PM.
There is still time to submit names and addresses of active service members with ties to Greater Hazleton. If interested, please email CAN DO’s Program Coordinator and Student Action Committee Advisor, Ana Perez at aperez@hazletoncando.com.
For additional information regarding CAN DO’s annual holiday events, contact CAN DO’s Marketing Communications Specialist, Miguel Polanco at mpolanco@hazletoncando.com.
