PLAINS TOWNSHIP -- The Salvation Army's Red Kettle campaign is winding down, but some young volunteers are stepping out, playing Santa for the day, delivering gifts to those who are less fortunate.
"I like putting smiles on their faces, seeing when we give them the gifts," said Salvation Army volunteer Aryonna Wainwright.
Their latest trip is a stop at the Golden Living nursing home in Plains Township, dropping off socks and magazines to seniors including Mary Janick.
"Makes you feel better that you're helping somebody less fortunate. If we're poor, there's always poorer people," said resident Mary Janick.
This is just one of the places the Salvation Army visits around Christmas every year.
"There are a lot of residents here that have no family members, so the little gift that they bring into the residents on a yearly basis just puts a smile on their face," said Golden Living Executive Director Linda Bravyak.
But the Wilkes-Barre Salvation Army is $30,000 short of meeting this year's fundraising goal through its Red Kettle Campaign.
"This is what they do with that money. They give back to the community. So their money is not just going to someplace where they don't see the return," said Bravyak.
The people at Golden Living hope they'll continue to see that return, even if the Salvation Army doesn't reach its fundraising goal.