The CAN DO Student Action Committee needs assistance from the community to gather the names and contact information for military members with ties to Greater Hazleton that are serving overseas as part of the 16th Operation: CAN DO drive.

Due to heightened security measures, local military recruitment offices can no longer supply the names and contact information of soldiers. So, the committee is asking the public to submit the names and addresses for any friends or family members with ties to Greater Hazleton who will be stationed abroad for the holidays.

To share the names and contact information of servicemen and servicewomen with ties to Greater Hazleton, email Nancy Stasko at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or mail the information to Operation: CAN DO, 1 South Church Street, Suite 200, Hazleton, PA 18201.

The annual Operation: CAN DO program is completed in conjunction with members of the Freeland American Legion Post 473, who package the items for shipment abroad to military members with ties to Greater Hazleton.

CAN DO Director of Administration and Student Action Committee co-advisor Nancy Stasko said, “We appreciate everyone’s support each year for our Operation: CAN DO Drive. When we asked the community to supply us with names and addresses last year, the response was overwhelming and that’s why we’re reaching out again to let everyone know that we are accepting the names and contact information so we can honor these military members with a care package this holiday.”

The CAN DO Student Action Committee is made up of local high school students who are appointed to serve as non-voting members of the CAN DO Board of Directors. Committee members are: Allison Gottstein and Shaunjae Suarez of Hazleton Area Academy of Sciences; Isabelle Ritz, Alivia Platek, Lucy Olander and Amelia Bredbenner of Hazleton Area High School; Cleidy Castillo and Ashley Taveras of Immanuel Christian School; Maxwell Schwabe and Walter Pavlik of Marian High School; Noah Long, Christian Badamo and Daniella Vasquez of MMI; and Kelly Royer and Timothy Maguschak of Weatherly High School.

CAN DO Vice Chairman Charles Burkhardt, along with Stasko, serve as advisors to the committee.