At the Lehighton Area School Board meeting on Tuesday evening, Gretchen Laviolette reported that this year marked the 24th time that Lehighton Area School District Holiday Educare Program helped to make the Christmas Season brighter for struggling families throughout the district.

According to Laviolette, "It is an honor to be considered the 'chair' of this program. However, it truly is a team effort." In addition to serving as Chairperson of LASD Holiday Educare Program, Laviolette is a math teacher at Lehighton Area High School .This year's program kicked off in mid-October with the first committee meeting. Members then began reaching out to district personnel, activity groups, and other outside friends and businesses for monetary donations. School counselors began contacting recommended families to determine who will be serviced.Many shoppers took advantage of Black Friday deals and continued to pick up items just days before Christmas. Packages were collected at individual schools and transferred to Lehighton Area Middle School prior to the last day of classes before the Christmas break."Even when the times seem tough and we are not sure if we will be able to service as many families as we did in the past, the district and community pull through and it comes out better than ever," said Laviolette.On Christmas Eve, eight Santas and their helpers met at LAMS to load up their sleighs. Each group then ventured out to deliver gifts to 123 children in 55 families with hopes of spreading Christmas cheer.Santa's helpers included Monroe Cressley; Jeff Kirsch; Chuck Laviolette; Melvin Muffley; Bob Schaeffer; Mike Solt; Tom Williams; and Jon Yenser.Prior to their Christmas Eve journeys, these eight Santa's helpers stopped by the home of Mildred Koons to surprise her with a floral arrangement as a gesture of appreciation for her and her late husband's dedication to the program and the district.Ray Koons served LASD for 30 years as a dedicated and respected teacher, administrator, and coach. He was instrumental in the development of the Holiday Educare Program and remained active in it even in his retirement. Koons passed away in 2012.LASD Holiday Educare Program officially formed in 1989 to help struggling families district-wide. Prior to that time - teachers, administrators, counselors, and staff had been helping children and their families either privately or on an individual building level for many years.Laviolette shared with the school board a letter from an anonymous grateful parent that stated in part, " … My children LOVE their winter coats! … Thank you!"In addition to the faculty, administration, and support staff throughout the entire school district, Laviolette thanked the following for their contributions and support:Big Creek Grange; Hugh Dugan; First Commonwealth Credit Union; LAHS National Honor Society; LAMS PTO; Neil Millheim; Phoenix Rehabilitation and Health Services; Susan Reilly; Saint Matthew's Lutheran Church; Attorney William G. Schwab; and Zachary Werner.Summing up the program, Laviolette said, "It makes me realize that the district in which I work is one that is a family. We are simply one family helping other families!"For more information about all that is going on throughout Lehighton Area School District , visit

www.Lehighton.org

http://www.lehighton.org/ or call (610)377-4490.