Reports for the annual charity drives held as part of Jim Thorpe’s 40th Olde Time Christmas Celebration during the weekends of December show both residents and visitors put “giving” first at Christmas time.

This year’s Olde Time Christmas Celebration included three different opportunities for giving and benefited many people.

Soldiers and members of the military were the recipients of over 350 Christmas greeting cards collected in the “Military Mail House” that was located in 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 serving member of the military.

If visitors did not bring a Christmas card with them, they weren’t left out because Jane Kohler of the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau offered a card. She reported everyone was delighted with the opportunity to send a personal greeting to a defender of our country.

Many cards were addressed in a child’s handwriting, indicating that parents had encouraged their children to show gratitude by sending a greeting card to a soldier. Cards will be delivered through Soldiers’ Angels, whose programs support military families.

The coming colder weather won’t bother many of the area children because they’ll stay warm with mittens, gloves and scarves donated by visitors and residents and hung on the Lions Club Mitten Tree which was also in the railroad station. Sandy Gallagher of the Jim Thorpe Lions Club stated the items will be distributed through various local food banks

Seniors of the area will enjoy warm feet with the many pairs of socks placed in the donation box in the Mauch Chunk 5 & 10. The group Socks for Seniors will handle the distribution of the many items donated in addition to the many warm socks.

The Jim Thorpe Tourism Agency, sponsor of the 40th Old Time Christmas Celebration, is grateful to all who participated.