Making Christmas Better for Flood Victims | News

A group of children from Bradford County worked hard all year to make a better Christmas for some flood victims there.

On Sunday they got to see the efforts of their work.

The Wyalusing Area High School auditorium displays thousands of toys headed for needy children in the Christmas for Kids program.

“This does mean a lot to me.  There are families whose parents can`t give them Christmas presents,” said Joadan Armitage of Wyalusing High Leo Club. “People in our community needed help."

They needed more help than ever, and not because the economy left more families behind. Instead, the September flooding left so many families in Bradford County homeless, and jobless, at least for the time being.

“Our town got destroyed and basically I just wanted to help the community and be a good citizen for our town,” said Armitage.

“We have over 160 kids registered this year who will be receiving toys,” said Leo Club advisor Beth Trowbridge.

Because of the devastating floods, many people have classmates and close friends whose younger brothers and sisters will receive some of these toys.

For students like Armitrage, this year`s mission is personal.

“When they open the toys, I`ll know as a person that I did this to help them get their toys,” said Armitage.

This is the fifth year student members of the Leo Club held the Christmas for Kids toy drive, and it was by far, their busiest.