(Freeland, PA – November 4, 2010) – After months of planning and weeks of collecting donations, members of the CAN DO Student Action Committee on Thursday delivered thousands of items donated by businesses and individuals throughout Greater Hazleton as part of the annual “Operation: CAN DO” drive.

The food, books and personal care items, delivered to American Legion Post 473 in Freeland, will be used to create care packages that will be delivered to men and women serving in the armed forces in the Middle East with ties to Greater Hazleton.

Operation: CAN DO is now in its sixth year. CAN DO has partnered with the Freeland American Legion since the drive’s inception, and members of the Student Action Committee expressed their thanks on Thursday to Commander Gerald Gaffney and other members of the Freeland American Legion in recognition of their continued assistance with the program and their dedication to members of the United States military.

CAN DO President Kevin O’Donnell said, “It is an honor to join forces with the Freeland American Legion as we support our troops overseas. A heartfelt ‘thank you’ goes out to the members of the American Legion, the Student Action Committee, committee advisors Charles Burkhardt and Nancy Stasko and all the students and organizations who help us make the holidays a little brighter for our troops.”

CAN DO Chairman John Spevak said, “We are always so touched to see how supportive our community is of Operation: CAN DO. The drive really brings together businesses, clubs, schools and residents to express our gratitude to American troops. On behalf of CAN DO, I would like to say thank you to everyone who has contributed to Operation: CAN DO.”

Schools and school clubs that have collected and donated items are the Freeland Builders Club, Freeland Elementary/Middle School, Hazleton Area High School, Immanuel Christian School, MMI Preparatory School and Weatherly Area High School.

Those with loved ones serving abroad can still submit names and contact information to CAN DO, c/o Nancy Stasko, 1 S. Church St., 200 Renaissance Center, Hazleton, PA 18201 or by calling (570) 455-1508 or e-mailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

“This project is a perfect way to show our servicemen and women how much we appreciate them. We are grateful for the opportunity to share a little bit of home with them during the holidays,” said Operation: CAN DO co-chair Stephen Senick. Other co-chairs are Matt Caccese of Weatherly Area High School and George Gera of MMI Preparatory School.

The Student Action Committee is made up of local high school students appointed to serve as non-voting members of CAN DO’s board of directors. Members of the committee are Adam Hauze, Jocelyn Hinkle, Katelyn Mantz and Stephen Senick, Hazleton Area High School; Jonathan Hall and Yanira Paulino, Immanuel Christian School; George Gera and Nicholas Triano, MMI Preparatory School; and Susan Funk and Matt Caccese, Weatherly Area High School.

The CAN DO Student Action Committee helps coordinate several programs and events in the community. One of those events is the annual CAN DO Community Christmas, which will be held Dec. 2 at 6 p.m. at the J.J. Ferrara Center in downtown Hazleton.