PITTSTON — The Pittston Santa Squad is at it again. This time, though, instead of collecting toys for the holidays, the group held a coat drive donating the majority of coats to St. John the Evangelist Care and Concern Ministry.
A non-profit organization, the Pittston Santa Squad was formed in 2018 when Anthony Marranca heard about the West Pittston Salvation Army’s need for toys at Christmas time. He sprung into action, asking friends who play in the annual Thanksgiving touch football game he organizes, to bring a toy to the game.
Before Marranca knew it, with the help of his friends, over 440 toys were collected, essentially saving Christmas for so many children serviced by the Salvation Army.
Marranca didn’t stop there, though. He decided helping others was a mission so, along with his friends, he created the Pittston Santa Squad.
His efforts did not go unnoticed as, earlier this year, the Sunday Dispatch named him Greater Pittston’s 2018 Person of the Year.
Over the summer, Marranca and the Pittston Santa Squad decided to conduct a coat drive.
“We wanted something to do before the toy drive and we thought we’d warm up with the coat drive,” Marranca said. “I grew up with the Tavaglione family who created Coats for Kids and I thought maybe we could resurrect that.”
The Santa Squad collected about 250 coats from drop-off boxes placed at Casey Dental, Pittston, Pittston Dry Cleaners, Pittston Memorial Library, Pittston Twp. Volunteer Fire Dept. UGI Corp. heard of the drive and donated, as did Action Lift.
“We are donating the majority to the Care and Concern Ministry and we plan on dropping off coats to Dress for Success in Wilkes-Barre because some of the coats are more formal,” Marranca added. “We also sent a dozen coats to Luzerne County Children and Youth and to an agency in Scranton.”
Marranca couldn’t put a cash value on the donated coats.
“I don’t know the value, except you just have to measure it in how you will keep 300 people warm this winter – that’s the best value,” Marranca said.
Carl Boos, food pantry coordinator at St. John the Evangelist Care and Concern Ministry, was happy to see the donated coats.
The church has been handing out donated coats for the last 10 years with its own drive. With the donation from the Pittston Santa Squad, this year’s program has been given a real boost.
According to Boos, the adult coat giveaway at St. John’s will take place on or about Dec. 18, although dates are not set in stone.
“Last year, we had a total of 300 coats we gave away and about 20% stayed with us, so we gave out about 260 coats in total,” Boos said.
The church will collect coats during the entire month of November.
