CAN DO, the economic development organization serving Greater Hazleton and beyond, announced that its Student Action Committee for the 2016-2017 school year has initiated the planning process for its two signature events, Operation: CAN DO and CAN DO Community Christmas.
Student Action Committee members will help collect items and assemble care packages for troops stationed in the Middle East through Operation: CAN DO for the 12th year. The packages will be delivered in time for the holiday season to troops who have ties to Greater Hazleton in cooperation with American Legion Home Association Post 473 in Freeland. The students will be mailing letters seeking a variety of items, including food, personal care products and entertainment items, and monetary donations and setting up collection centers at their schools.
The 24th annual CAN DO Community Christmas will be held Wednesday, December 7 from 6-7:30 p.m. at Christ Lutheran Church in Hazleton. Student Action Committee members are planning this year’s celebration around the general theme of Come Celebrate the Arts. The evening will feature performances from student musical acts such as jazz ensembles, chamber orchestras and chorus groups. Committee members are working to design a T-shirt for this year and will coordinate refreshments, a Letters to Santa table and a visit from Santa Claus during the event.
Student Action Committee members are: Dominic Yannuzzi and Michael Kulish, from Hazleton Area Academy of Sciences; Lauren Pataki, Jerry Gasser, Mark Abdelmalek and Alexandra Rentz from Hazleton Area High School; Pemely Guzman and Christopher Danishefsky, from Immanuel Christian School; Jenna O’Donnell and Corrin Dagostin, from Marian High School; Kayla Leonard, Joshua Narrow, Zach Gera and Jakob Schwabe, from MMI Preparatory School; and Samantha DeSpirito and Jillian Bartel, from Weatherly Area High School.
Yannuzzi and Dagostin will serve as Operation: CAN DO co-chairs and O’Donnell and Leonard will co-chair CAN DO Community Christmas. Nancy Stasko and Charles Burkhardt are the Student Action Committee advisors.
