An abundance of toys were recently delivered to the “Toys for Tots” bin at Padora’s Bakery, Tamaqua, in honor of Gerald “Jerry” Skelding.

The toys were collected by the information technology department of Amazon, Hazleton, in recognition and memory of Skelding, an IT manager at the facility. Skelding was an ardent supporter of Toys for Tots and his family asked that donations be made in his honor.

The toys were delivered by members of the IT Department just in time for Christmas distribution.

A 1983 graduate of Tamaqua Area High School, Skelding enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps upon graduation and served his country honorably for six years and was part of the multinational peacekeeping force in Beirut. Skelding returned home and earned his associate degree in computer science from Lehigh Carbon Community College. He passed away surrounded by his family on Dec. 12 in Salisbury Township, Lehigh Valley Health, from complications of COVID-19.