PITTSTON – Rain, sleet, snow and muddy conditions didn’t stop the Greater Pittston Santa Squad from holding the annual Turkey Bowl and it didn’t deter Santa Squad founder Anthony Marranca from collecting toys and money for the Christmas holiday.
Santa Squad members and friends gathered at Albert West Field, Pittston, on Nov. 24 to participate in the event that gave birthday to the not-for-profit organization 12 months ago.
Out of a need for toys for the West Pittston Salvation Army’s Christmas campaign, Marranca and friends decided to step up and give a helping hand. When the annual Turkey Bowl touch football game was played in 2018, Marranca asked fellow players to bring a toy to donate to the Salvation Army.
After collecting over 445 toys, money and hats and scarfs, Marranca decided to legitimize the group’s efforts and the Greater Pittston Santa Squad was born.
Since its inception, the Santa Squad became a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, had a successful softball tournament fundraiser and completed a coat drive donating to St. John the Evangelist Care and Concern Ministry collecting over 250 coats.
“Despite soggy conditions, our game raised $1,600 and over 150 toys,” Marranca said of this year’s Turkey Bowl effort. “Thanks to everyone who helped in any way. We are forever grateful.”
The annual touch football game had been held in different locations on Thanksgiving morning but last year, with the help of the Pittston Jr. Patriots football team, West Field was offered with the Jr. Patriots’ blessing.
“Last year they tried to get the field at the high school when it was raining and I said to come here,” Theresa Miller, Jr. Patriots president, said. “We try to do anything we can for the kids.”
The Jr. Patriots opened their concession stand were the Santa Squad had foods donated such as subs, pizza, sausage and peppers, bagels, desserts and drinks, including coffee and hot chocolate.
The weather didn’t stop family and friends from going to West Field to take in the game and donate a toy such as Cheryl Higgins who donated toys for boys, girls and babies.
“All our buddies from school are doing a great thing and they asked us to come down,” Cheryl Higgins said. “I think this is great and the game was a tradition they held for so long and now they are just making people happy while continuing their tradition.”
Donating for the second year was the Pittston Area Girls Basketball team.
“We used to go to Kmart and do random acts of kindness like money or pay someone’s layaway off and then they closed,” Pittston Area head basketball coach, Kathy Healey said. “I thought let me surprise him last year and he thought we were going to bring one toy and when the whole team showed up, it was very emotional. He asked if we could help us out this year and I told him no problem; we’re making this our (team) cause.”
The night before, a dinner was held at Pittston Township’s Italian Citizens Enjoyment Club, where over 100 people attended.
“I think we found quite a little niche for ourselves,” Marranca said regarding the dinner. “I think we’re going to be successful. It’s not going to go away.”
According to Marranca, the dinner generated an additional 125 toys collected and $1,100. The two-day total was 275 toys and $2,700.
“When I told people we probably reached our five-year expectation in year two,” Marranca said. “We won’t be shocked if we get up to 900 toys.”
The majority of toys will go to the West Pittston Salvation Army with additional toys going to Children and Youth and St. John the Evangelist Care and Concern Ministry, Marranca said.
There is one week left in the Greater Pittston Santa Squad toy drive that will stop collecting toys on Dec. 7.
There are two-toy drop off centers in Greater Pittston, the Pittston Memorial Library and Hair Color Studio located at the Pittston Bypass. Money can be donated at the PayPal website under GreaterPittstonSantaSquad@gmail.com.
Further information for the Greater Pittston Santa Squad can be found at the Facebook page.
