Freeland Elementary/Middle School was among the many area schools and businesses that helped the CAN DO Student Action Committee complete its most successful “Operation: CAN DO” drive to date.

CAN DO’s Student Action Committee received a record number of items and monetary donations from throughout Greater Hazleton as part of the 11th annual drive to distribute care packages to military members with ties to Greater Hazleton that will be stationed abroad for the holidays. Several Freeland Elementary/Middle School sixth grade Builder’s Club students took time Tuesday to pack up the food, hygiene and entertainment items for delivery to CAN DO’s office. They will be combined with the other donations and transported to American Legion Home Post Association 473 in Freeland on November 5. Legion members will create the care packages and ship them to soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines.

The CAN DO Student Action Committee is still seeking names and contact information for military members with ties to Greater Hazleton that are serving anywhere abroad. Local residents can submit the names and delivery information of their family members or friends to CAN DO Director of Administration Nancy Stasko at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by calling 570-455-1508.

“Operation: CAN DO” is just one of the CAN DO Student Action Committee’s projects. The committee coordinates events including the annual CAN DO Community Christmas celebration. The committee consists of area high school students who are appointed to serve as non-voting representatives to the CAN DO Board of Directors. Stasko and CAN DO board member Charles Burkhardt serve as advisers to the committee.

Students at Valley Elementary/Middle School, Hazleton Area High School, Immanuel Christian School, Weatherly Area High School, Arthur Street Elementary School, Hazle Township Early Learning Center, Heights-Terrace Elementary/Middle School, Hazleton Area Academy of Sciences, Hazleton Area Career Center, Marian High School and MMI Preparatory School also took part in “Operation: CAN DO.”

Freeland Elementary/Middle School students in the Builder’s Club spent more than a month gathering items for the drive. Club adviser Nathan DeBalko supervised the students and said it’s always an exciting project that teaches the students about giving to others.

“The students did a great job. This was a project for the sixth grade Builder’s Club but we had students in kindergarten through eighth grade donate,” DeBalko said. “It’s one of the Builder’s Club’s favorite projects because it helps local troops. Every Builder’s Club project is a community service project and this helps the students give back to those that are sacrificing their lives for our country.”