Reports are finally in for the charity drives during the Olde Time Christmas celebration in Jim Thorpe a few weeks ago, and prove both residents and visitors put "giving" first this Christmas season. This year's Olde Time Christmas celebration included three different opportunities for giving and each was a big success and benefited many different people.
Soldiers in Iraq were the recipients of over 625 Christmas cards collected in the "Military Mail House" that was located at the railroad station.
Visitors to Jim Thorpe from many states brought Christmas cards addressed "Dear Soldier," while numerous area residents made a special trip to the railroad station to deposit their greeting card for a deserving soldier.
If visitors did not bring a Christmas card with them they weren't left out because Jane Kohler of the Pocono Mountains Vacation Bureau and Ernie Heckman of the Jim Thorpe Chamber of Commerce offered a card to every person who visited the Railroad Station. They reported everyone was delighted with the opportunity to send a personal greeting to a soldier.
Several Scout troops and school classes used this as a project and each child made a personal card with a hand-drawn picture and a very unique message. Cards were sent through Operation Touch of Home, which assists i