"It made me realize how fortunate I am."

By Doug Graves © 2007
Almost 60 people of all ages were busy helping Santa last Thursday at the Holiday Inn Conference Center of the Lehigh Valley in Fogelsville. They were wrapping or sorting almost 2,000 toys, books and stuffed animals that had been donated by various groups and organizations, including the Marine Corps Reserve through their “Toys for Tots” program. Books were donated by the Cops ‘n’ Kids Children’s Literacy Program.
The Holiday Hope Chest Campaign donated 1,000 shoe boxes, wrapped and filled with a selection of small gifts.
“We haven’t bought a toy in five years,” said George Pitsilos, catering and sales manager at the hotel. “They are all donated.”
Eight high schoolers from Liberty High School pitched in. They represented the student government body demonstrating that most effective leadership trait—leading by example. “We are here to volunteer,” said Caroline Vail. “Just here to help.”
Mala Saha-Guzman, there with her family, said “We’re here to help out and to show our children its not just about getting gifts.” She was there with her husband Romulo and their children, Amaya, 7, and Ryan, eight and half.
Trevor McCleary, 14, was helping transport wrapped packages to the staging area. “I came to help people,” he said. “To help the community.” Trevor is a student at Orefield Middle School.
The same sentiment was expressed by Dickinson Law School student Christine Lombardo of Allentown. She was there with her children, Madison, 7, and Katie, four and a half. “I like to volunteer. This the first time for them . . . they wanted to volunteer.”
Working at the book table, other college students were busy. Duquesne University student Brigitte Gotzon was there. She is an ’06 graduate of Liberty High School. The University of Pittsburgh’s Carly Stasak was there—also a LHS ’06 grad.
Lauren Diehl from Susquehanna University was helping—another LHS Class of “06” alumna. Also sorting books was Emmaus High School’s Maddie Bean. Working across the room Rutgers University’s was Andre “Hoagie” Morales, also an ’06 grad of LHS.
The huge event room at the conference center was a hub of activity. Tables were surrounded by teams wielding scotch tape and wrapping paper. Others took wrapped packages to staging areas and sorted them into separate piles for boys and for girls and further sorted by age group.
Orchestrating this whirl of scissors, tape and brightly colored wrapping paper, Pitsilos kept the seemingly chaotic “happening” flowing smoothly. With his bull-horn and big smile he kept the group informed and directed supplies flowing to the tables. More wrapping paper here, more tape there, more presents to that table.
“I’ve been working for the company for 14 years,” said Pitsilos. “This event started 15 years ago. It made me realize how fortunate I am—it’s a humbling experience.” Pitsilos’ family participates. His daughter, Kayla, started when she was three years old. Now she is a fashion major at a New York City college.
Why all the gifts?
Sarah Kim, 11, was sitting on the floor and wrapping packages with her brother Joshua, 9 and her good friend, Emily Leonardo, 12. “Come back on Christmas Eve,” Sarah said. “Kids will sit on Santa’s lap and open presents.”
On Christmas Eve Pitsilos plans to feed over 4,000 people from around the Lehigh Valley. These guests have, for a large part, been selected by various homeless shelters and community action centers and they will be bused to the hotel by Trans-Bridge Lines—free.
Once at the hotel they will be honored guests. That’s right. 4,000 guests—not customers. The conference center is being decorated as though it were the social event of the season. Buffet lines will be overflowing with traditional holiday food, drink and sweets. The main course? Turkey, of course—240 of them donated by Jaindl Farms.
The names of some of the other people donating money and services seemed familiar. . . . philanthropist Linny Fowler . . . David Jaindl’s Jaindl Farms . . . hotelier Kostas Kalogeropoulos. These same names are linked to some other marvelous Lehigh Valley institutions: the Miracle League, leadership awards at SkillsUSA, Camelot for Kids-- to name a few.