Two area nonprofits launched a holiday collection drive to provide local veterans with clothing, personal care products, and art supplies.
Scranton Tomorrow, a community and economic development organization, and the Rotary Club of Scranton seek new clothing including sweatpants and sweatshirts (sized medium to 3XL), all sizes of colored T-shirts, and all sizes of belts, along with toiletries like shampoo, body wash, deodorant, men’s and women’s shaving razors, shaving cream and tissues, and art supplies including canvases for painting, coloring books and crayons.
Items may be dropped off at Scranton Tomorrow’s office, 317 Linden St., from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Thursday.
Martha “Marty” Peak Helman, a Rotary International director, will join Scranton Tomorrow and Rotary officials Saturday morning to deliver the donations to the residents of the Gino J. Merli Veterans Center on Penn Avenue.
Upon learning of Helman ‘s upcoming visit, Ty Holmes president of the Rotary Club of Scranton, and Scranton Tomorrow officials worked with staff from the veterans center to organize the project.
“The goal is to provide service to our heroes,” Holmes said. “For me, especially, as a veteran, those who reside there are near and dear to my heart. As we’re getting close to Veterans Day, you want to honor all veterans but this is something they can physically see, a tangible thank you.”
Holmes added that Rotary International and Rotary District 7410, which has more than 40 clubs throughout northeastern Pennsylvania, also joined in to help spread the word.
“We’ve had an incredible response from the clubs and community members have also responded,” Holmes said.
Specifically, the Northeast Theatre Dance Academy in Dunmore collected 275 pairs of socks and added a personal touch.
“They’re even going a step further by putting tags on each pair of socks that say thank you for your service,” Holmes said. “I’m just so blown away … they’re personalized and I think that’s phenomenal. I’ve lived all over the world and there is no place that’s more supportive of its veteran community than northeastern Pennsylvania.”
The Rotary Club of Scranton previously partnered with Scranton Tomorrow on several events, including beautification projects at the Gino Merli Center, and Holmes called the latest collaboration a “no-brainer.”
Steve Ward, project manager of the Safe, Clean, Green & Design program for Scranton Tomorrow, said the collection is a great way for the community to show local veterans that their service and sacrifice are appreciated.
“They have given so much to our country, and this effort is a small way for us to show our gratitude,” he said. “This is more than a project for me. It’s personal. I’m a member of the Rotary Club of Scranton, and my dad was a veteran.”
The Rotary Club also plans to honor several members of the Gino Merli staff with a special recognition on Saturday.
“If you’re familiar with the challenge coin in the military, being presented with a coin is significant and special because you are basically being told you exceeded the standard of expectations,” Holmes said. “I brought that same mentality into the Scranton Rotary Club and developed a coin so that when someone does something, we can take the time to thank them. Instead of just a handshake, I want to be able to give them something tangible because they’re taking care of my heroes and our nation’s heroes.”