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Valley Santa Provides a Christmas for All Children

WILKES-BARRE — Every year thousands of parents in northeastern and central Pennsylvania worry if they will be able to give their children a Christmas. The...

WILKES-BARRE -- Every year thousands of parents in northeastern and central Pennsylvania worry if they will be able to give their children a Christmas. They look to programs like the Valley Santa program in Luzerne County.

The Valley Santa effort is in full swing. Volunteers were wrapping hundreds of presents already purchased for children throughout Luzerne County, children who otherwise wouldn't have a present under the tree this Christmas.

"We are just hoping to provide every child with a gift that shows them that someone is thinking about them, that they are special," organizer Sarah Borland said.

Each gift is for a special child, picked out after a letter is sent to the Valley Santa program.  Santa is able to purchase the presents thanks to donations sent in from the community.

Sarah Borland's family helped start the program 32 years ago and she's been a part of it since she was eight years old.

"People are trying and it's things like medical bills, that parents are faced with, you know, surprise medical bills and they want to provide Christmas for their family and they just can't," Borland said.

The Valley Santa program keeps a record of the families that get presents.  Usually it's different ones each year, families who have just fallen on hard times. In fact, it's common that when those families rebound financially, they pay it forward.

"Young parents that will come back and you know, especially wrap. I think they like to see the toys come through and they like to wrap because they remember getting presents themselves a long time ago and it really made a difference to them," said volunteer Molly Bieryla.

Donations for the Valley Santa program can be made at any Citizen's Bank branch or sent to:
PO Box 5276
Wilkes-Barre, PA 18703

If you would like to volunteer your time or know of a family in need you can contact the Valley Santa help line at 570-829-1341.

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