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LEHIGH VALLEY WEATHER

Stuff the Bus delivers

The fourth annual ‘Stuff the Bus’ campaign withstood windy, cold weather during its collection days as Bethlehem Area School District transportation department employees and Freedom and Liberty high school students earning community service credit braved the elements.

Collection points at the Bethlehem Square Shopping Center on Nazareth Pike and at SteelStacks during Christkindlmarkt filled a bus with toys for the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve’s Toys for Tots program and provided some toys, food, clothing and personal hygiene items for New Bethany clientele.

The Dec. 20 delivery of toys to the Toys for Tots warehouse in Northampton by BASD transportation supported an operation that distributes 150,000 toys to 30,000 children annually, according to warehouse coordinator Wayne Langsdorf, who has been filling that role for 15 years.

Langsdorf says about 20 active duty and reserve Marines sort the donations by age and sex. They are aided by Northampton Area HS students also earning community service credit. Less than a week before Christmas, Lehigh Valley based agencies visit the warehouse to pick up their allocations.

Langsdorf estimates that the BASD transportation effort delivered nearly 2,000 toys through the ‘Stuff the Bus’ initiative.

On Dec. 23, BASD transportation employees also delivered items to New Bethany in time for distribution over the Christmas holiday.

BASD driver Brenda Sciascia coordinates the collections and works with BASD transportation general manager Jenny Robinson on the purchases of requested items at New Bethany, from the monetary donations to the campaign.

“Our community has been overwhelmingly kind, giving and supportive, with many people returning to us year after year with their compassionate generosity,” Sciascia said, assessing the 2024 effort.

She also applauded the commitment of fellow drivers and the enthusiasm of ‘student elves’ that made the fourth year successful beyond expectations.

Stuff #1:Bethlehem Area School District bus #75 is loaded with toys for delivery to the Toys for Tots warehouse.
Earning community service credit, Freedom HS senior Gideon Ukude carries a box of toys to the bus.
BASD transportation maintenance supervisor Mike Byrnes hands a box of toys to U.S. Marine Corps Captain David Vargas.
Toys for Tots delivery completed, BASD transportation employees Tami Kieffer, Brenda Sciascia and Mike Byrnes, Freedom HS senior Gideon Ukude, and warehouse coordinator Wayne Langsdorf are joined by a group of active duty and reserve U.S. Marines who work on the sorting.
AARP volunteers Larry Graham and “Miss Cozy” accepted delivery from BASD transportation workers Brenda Sciascia and Mike Byrnes, and Freedom HS senior Gideon Ukude, at the New Bethany pantry.
press photos by dana grubbBASD transportation maintenance supervisor Mike Byrnes begins to unload boxes of donations at New Bethany Ministries.