In a heartwarming display of holiday spirit, students at Dr. David W. Kistler Elementary School in Wilkes-Barre experienced an early Christmas surprise on Thursday.
Amanda Lee, a member of the Wilkes University soccer team, spearheaded a gift-giving event that spread joy to more than 400 elementary students. This initiative saw collaboration with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and several Wilkes athletic teams, including women’s ice hockey, baseball, women’s and men’s lacrosse, softball, men’s basketball, wrestling, football, and field hockey.
Bradley Simeon hugs Santa after receiving a Christmas gift from the Wilkes baseball team.
Trinity Santa opens a gift from the Wilkes University athletes.
Aimee Dilger / WVIA News
Ty Jahnigen, a freshman football player, colors with children at Kistler Elementary.
Aimee Dilger / WVIA News
Alyanna Pastrana can’t contain her excitement after opening a dollhouse gift from the Wilkes baseball players.
Aimee Dilger / WVIA News
Students in Marie Sullivan’s K6 classroom play with Santa’s bells during the Wilkes Christmas gift delivery.
Aimee Dilger / WVIA News
Sophomore Wilkes football player Cohen Creswell talks with kindergarten students at Kistler Elementary after giving them Christmas gifts.
Aimee Dilger / WVIA News
Santa Claus joins the Wilkes baseball team in handing out gifts to kindergarten students at Kistler Elementary.
Aimee Dilger / WVIA News
Wilkes freshman soccer player Ava Long helps Meekayla Abreau Marte open her gift, a large Squishmallow stuffy.
Aimee Dilger / WVIA News
The Wilkes women’s soccer team carries gifts to be given to students at Kistler Elementary.
Aimee Dilger / WVIA News
Taylor Sparks, a Wilkes University lacrosse player, carries gifts into Kistler Elementary school to be delivered to kindergarten and first-grade students. Wilkes athletes held a gift drive under the planning of Amanda Lee, a pharmacy student.
Aimee Dilger / WVIA News
Wilkes senior baseball player Evan Melberger, of West Pittston, helps carry a bag of gifts collected for Kistler Elementary students.
Aimee Dilger / WVIA News
Amanda Lee, a Wilkes pharmacy student, addresses all of the athletes who have helped gather and hand out gifts for Kistler Elementary students.
