PITTSTON — The Greater Pittston Santa Squad (GPSS) is set for the 2026 Christmas campaign looking for angels to fulfill Christmas lists from children in the Pittston Area and Wyoming Area School Districts.
As the holiday season approaches, the GPSS is calling on the community to become Christmas angels by adopting a child and helping make a young person’s holiday a little brighter.
Now in its ninth year, the volunteer organization created by Anthony Marranca, GPSS president, is preparing for another busy Christmas season, with approximately 530 children registered during four recent sign-up days.
With the number of children needing assistance increasing and the organization operating without its usual fundraiser this year, community support is especially important.
The Santa Squad is inviting individuals, families, small businesses, factories and groups of co-workers to adopt one or more children through its Christmas wish-list program.
“We would like the public to reach out to our Facebook page or to my page on Facebook at “Atnee Marranca,” and let us know if you’d like to adopt a child,” said Marranca, who helps coordinate the effort.
“Businesses and other groups can make an even greater impact by adopting two or three children or organizing a workplace effort to fulfill several children’s Christmas wishes.”
The program serves children from newborns through age 14, primarily in the Pittston Area and Wyoming Area School Districts. Each child has a Christmas wish list, giving an adopting angel the opportunity to purchase age-appropriate gifts that will bring excitement and happiness on Christmas morning.
The requests are often for the same things children everywhere enjoy, including Legos, scooters, art kits, and Matchbox cars.
Marranca said some children request clothing or bedding, while others hope for toys and activities that reflect their individual interests.
On average, adopting a child costs approximately $100 to $125, depending on the items requested.
Marranca emphasized that participating does not necessarily mean purchasing expensive gifts. The goal is to help provide children with meaningful Christmas presents, and individuals can join with friends, relatives or co-workers to share the cost and shopping.
“It’s a really fun thing to do with a couple friends or, like I said, with people you work with,” Marranca said. “It’s good karma. It makes you feel good doing it.”
The organization asks participating angels to return their gifts by the middle of Nov. That early deadline is necessary because the work of delivering Christmas to hundreds of families involves much more than collecting toys.
Once the gifts are returned, volunteers must organize and process the donations before preparing for the organization’s toy distribution days, scheduled for Dec. 5 this year. The work requires considerable time and coordination to ensure that gifts are ready for families before Christmas.
The Santa Squad has grown substantially since its beginnings nine years ago. In recent years, the organization has assisted between approximately 1,000 and 1,500 children annually, with some years bringing even greater numbers. Over the course of its existence, the group estimates it has distributed well over 35,000 toys to children in need.
Behind those numbers are countless hours of volunteer work and the generosity of residents who believe every child deserves the opportunity to experience the magic of Christmas.
For families facing financial challenges, the holidays can bring additional pressure. The Santa Squad’s Christmas wish-list program offers a practical way for community members to step forward and help parents provide gifts their children might otherwise go without.
This year, without a large fundraiser to help support the organization’s efforts, adopting angels can play an especially important role in making the season successful.