In 10 years, CAN DO has touched the lives of hundreds of servicemen and women from the Hazleton area who are serving in the military overseas. On Memorial Day, the economic development organization and its student committee were honored for their support of the military.

Each fall since 2005, CAN DO’s Student Action Committee holds Operation: CAN DO, a drive to collect food, personal hygiene and entertainment products for local military personnel. Items are collected at local schools and businesses, as well as at CAN DO’s office. CAN DO partners with the Freeland American Legion to execute this annual event, with the Legion receiving the items and shipping care packages to military members in time for the holidays.

The Student Action Committee is made up of high school representatives to the CAN DO Board of Directors. CAN DO Director of Administration Nancy Stasko and board member Charles Burkhardt serve as co-advisers to the CAN DO Student Action Committee, which organizes Operation: CAN DO each year.

During Memorial Day ceremonies held in Freeland, Stasko and Rebecca Wolfe, a junior at Immanuel Christian School, accepted plaques from Freeland American Legion Commander Gerald Gaffney in recognition of Operation: CAN DO.

“The students who serve on the CAN DO Student Action Committee are so dedicated to their community and others. This project is one way that all of us at CAN DO and in Greater Hazleton can show appreciation for our military service personnel,” said Stasko, who also thanked Burkhardt and the members of the Freeland American Legion for their work with Operation: CAN DO.

The Student Action Committee also organizes the annual CAN DO Community Christmas, which brings hundreds of children together in a festive kickoff to the holiday season.

Members of this year’s committee are Nicole Barber, Dan Synoski, Luke Olander and Gabrielle Ator, Hazleton Area High School; Walker Day and Rebecca Wolfe, Immanuel Christian School; Hayle Shearer and Haylee Kirschner, MMI Preparatory School; Arianna Srinivasan, Mary Susan McAndrew and Hunter Berger, Marian High School; and Shannon Sarosky and Samantha Hartz, Weatherly Area High School.