Greater Pittston Santa Squad board member Gary Worosilla has been busy assembling bicycles, 60 to date, with another 55 more to assemble by delivery day.
Tony Callaio | Sunday Dispatch
Angel Tree bags of toys and other items have been prepared for distribution for Christmas 2023.
Tony Callaio | Sunday Dispatch
Toys are starting to pour in to the Greater Pittston Santa Squad warehouse in preparation for the 2023 Christmas campaign.
Tony Callaio | Sunday Dispatch
Representatives from Vision Imagining stopped by the Greater Pittston Santa Squad warehouse on William St., Pittston to pick up Angel Trees. To the right is Diana Worosilla of the Santa Squad.
Tony Callaio | Sunday Dispatch
The bicycles requested this year for Christmas is nearing 115 that will be given out by the Greater Pittston Santa Squad and generous donations.
Tony Callaio | Sunday Dispatch
PITTSTON – Greater Pittston Santa Squad (GPSS) Christmas 2024 campaign is officially underway with toys being dropped off at GPSS headquarters at the former Seton Catholic gym, William Street, Pittston.
GPSS President Anthony Marranca said his team is ready and all volunteers are standing by to collect, log in, and fill Angel Tree donations.
“We are getting the gym ready to roll and we have over 1,000 Angel Tree wish lists handed out,” Marranca said. “Some of the wish lists have been trickling back in and probably the last 10 days of November we will probably get the bulk of them back.”
Marranca said he anticipates handing out 1,600 Angel Tree gift bags this year, which is up from 1,400 from last year. The majority of toy recipients are in the Wyoming Area and Pittston Area school districts. After all the Greater Pittston wish lists are fulfilled, a select few outside agencies benefit from GPSS donations.
There are a few toy drops on the schedule over the next few weeks including Skibitsky & Molino Attorneys at Law, 457 N. Main St., Pittston, on Saturday, Nov. 18 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; South Pittston Thanksgiving Football Classic, Trippi Stadium, on Sunday, Nov. 19 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Pittston Area’s Bob Barbieri Fieldhouse, Trippi Stadium, on Nov. 25 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; and Casey Dental, 1073 Oak St., Pittston Twp., on Sunday, Nov. 26, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
GPSS is asking for a new, unwrapped toy to donate for the drive.
“This is full steam ahead, we are in the busy season,” Marranca added. “We have GPSS board Vice President Gary Worosilla assembling bicycles just about every night at the gym. He’s almost halfway done putting the bikes together out of the approximately 120 we will be giving out.”
“I’m extremely happy that our message of getting as many toys to children coming from families that are less fortunate,” Marranca admitted. “We have a great representation from both Wyoming Area and Pittston Area so the work has been getting out there and that’s a good thing.”
For more information, check out GPSS Facebook page at www.facebook.com/greaterpittstonsantasquad.
