The CAN DO Student Action Committee, in collaboration with the Freeland American Legion Post 473, is excited to announce the commencement of the 19th annual Operation: CAN DO drive. This heartfelt campaign aims to create care packages for military service members hailing from the Greater Hazleton area who are stationed away from home during the upcoming holiday season.

The campaign, which runs throughout the month of October, officially began with the distribution of letters to the area’s local schools and businesses, requesting both goods and monetary contributions to assemble these care packages.

CAN DO and its Student Action Committee invite the community to participate in this noble cause by hosting a collection box for donations at their businesses. Donations will be accepted until October 31st and can be either picked up or dropped off at the conclusion of the campaign. For monetary contributions towards postage and shipping costs, kindly make checks payable to ‘CAN DO, Inc. c/o Operation: CAN DO’ and send them to 1 S. Church Street, Suite 200, Hazleton, PA 18201.

CAN DO Community Relations Committee Chair and Student Action Committee co-advisor, Cal Herring, said, “Our Student Action Committee members are working diligently to make this holiday season a special one for our military service members. However, the success of Operation: CAN DO would not be possible without the generous donations from individuals and businesses across Greater Hazleton. That's why we're asking the public once again to help us gather items as well as contact information for our troops so we can honor these military members with a care package this holiday season.”

Comprising of local high school students appointed as non-voting members of the CAN DO Board of Directors, CAN DO’s Student Action Committee plays a crucial role in organizing this initiative. The 2023 Operation: CAN DO drive is being led by co-chairs Hayden Schwabe, a junior at MMI Preparatory School, and Trinity McCutcheon, a senior at Weatherly High School.

In addition to contributions, CAN DO is actively seeking the names and contact information of servicemen and women with ties to the Greater Hazleton area. If you have a loved one actively serving in the military or wish to make a donation, please reach out to Melissa Frederick at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Let us come together as a community to show our appreciation for those who protect our nation by making this holiday season a little brighter for our military heroes.