Season of Caring, Season of Sharing

After our Children’s Christmas Party drive-thru, some extra presents were remaining. The Local decided to help Santa with Christmas wishes by donating the toys to area agencies.  Here’s a rundown of agencies we helped to make a brighter Christmas:

New Hope Ministries: A Christian social service agency serving our neighbors in times of need and supporting their efforts toward stability.

Local 776 "Elves" at New Hope Ministries. L-R: BAs  Mark Cicak, Jason Kraft, Organizer Ashley Cerzullo (Kneeling), BA Dave Vrona (Rear), NEw Hope Staff, BAs Dave Licht, John Taylor, and New Hope Staff.

The Forty and Eight: The Forty and Eight was founded in 1920 by American Veterans returning from France. Originally an arm of the American Legion, it became an independent veteran's organization in 1960. It is committed to causes to promote the well-being of veterans and their widows and orphans and to actively participate in selected charitable endeavors, which include programs that promote child welfare and nurse's training.

Pictured from the left are Mike Cassatt, Local 776 BA Dave Vrona, Organizer Ashley Cerzullo, and on the right is John Scarangella who is a retiree of Local 776.

YWCA Access York: YWCA York provides emergency shelter for victims and their dependent children fleeing imminent danger.

Access York Director Miss Bert, Davis on her lap, and Jane (the little elf)

Local 776 BA Dave Wolf (Behind the camera!)

A hospital is no place for children, especially at Christmas time. The Hershey Medical Center’s Children’s Hospital and the Shriners Children’s Hospital received toys in the hope of making the kids there have a brighter holiday.

Shriners Children’s Hospital: Provides compassionate, innovative care that improves the quality of life for children and their families

The Shriners staff welcomed the Local 776 "Elves" as they made their rounds.

L-R: BAs John Taylor, Dave Vrona, Organizer Ashley Cerzullo, BAs Dave Licht, Mark Cicak.

Hershey Medical Center: As the only children’s hospital between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia fully equipped to treat the most severely ill children it is the region’s pediatric health care leader.

Pictured at HMC Children's Hospital are: Tom Bender, and Matt Miller; Union Stewards, Pam from the PSU Child Life Center, Local 776 BA Dave Vrona, Member  Scott Porter, and Mike Criswell Union Steward.

Commented Local President Ed Thompson “What better way to celebrate the Holiday than by sharing what we have with others. This is just another way we support the communities where our members work and live,” added Thompson.