Christmas came early for students at Dr. David W. Kistler Elementary School in Wilkes-Barre on Thursday.
Wilkes University soccer player Amanda Lee and the rest of her team helped provide gifts to more than 400 students. The team partnered with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and various Wilkes athletics teams, including women's ice hockey, baseball, women's lacrosse, men's lacrosse, softball, men's basketball, men's and women's wrestling, football, field hockey and more.
Aimee Dilger
/
WVIA News
1 of
— 12042025_Gifts012.jpg
Trinity Santa opens a gift from the Wilkes University athletes.
Aimee Dilger / WVIA News
2 of
— 12042025_Gifts011.jpg
Ty Jahnigen, a freshman football player, colors with children at Kistler Elementary.
Aimee Dilger / WVIA News
3 of
— 12042025_Gifts010.jpg
Alyanna Pastrana can't contain her excitement after opening a dollhouse gift from the Wilkes baseball players.
Aimee Dilger / WVIA News
4 of
— 12042025_Gifts009.jpg
Students in Marie Sullivan's K6 classroom play with Santa's bells during the Wilkes Christmas gift delivery.
Aimee Dilger / WVIA News
5 of
— 12042025_Gifts007.jpg
Sophomore Wilkes football player Cohen Creswell talks with kindergarten students at Kistler Elementary after giving them Christmas gifts.
Aimee Dilger / WVIA News
6 of
— 12042025_Gifts006.jpg
Santa Claus joins the Wilkes baseball team in handing out gifts to kindergarten students at Kistler Elementary.
Aimee Dilger / WVIA News
7 of
— 12042025_Gifts005.jpg
Wilkes freshman soccer player Ava Long helps Meekayla Abreau Marte open her gift, a large Squishmallow stuffy.
Aimee Dilger / WVIA News
1 of
— 12042025_Gifts003.jpg
The Wilkes women's soccer team carries gifts to be given to students at Kistler Elementary.
Aimee Dilger / WVIA News
2 of
— 12042025_Gifts001.jpg
Taylor Sparks, a Wilkes University lacrosse player, carries gifts into Kistler Elementary school to be delivered to kindergarten and first grade students. Wilkes athletes held a gift drive under the planning of Amanda Lee, a pharmacy student.
Aimee Dilger / WVIA News
3 of
— 12042025_Gifts002.jpg
Wilkes senior baseball player Evan Melberger, of West Pittston, helps carry a bag of gifts collected for Kistler Elementary students.
Aimee Dilger / WVIA News
4 of
— 12042025_Gifts004.jpg
Amanda Lee, a Wilkes pharmacy student, addresses all of the athletes who have helped gather and hand out gifts for Kistler Elementary students.
Aimee Dilger / WVIA News