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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; What began as a thoughtful lesson from mother to child became an annual community drive to help less fortunate children in Wilkes-Barre. Geena Russo, co-owner of 570 Tattoo Co., said her 8-year-old daughter Brilee was the inspiration for starting the drive.</p><p>&#8220;Three Christmases ago, Brilee was 5, going to be 6,&#8221; Russo said. &#8220;I grew up very poor. There&#8217;s no qualms about that, not the best childhood, and my kids don&#8217;t want for anything &#8230; love or material. I made a Facebook post saying, &#8216;Brilee&#8217;s so spoiled. She doesn&#8217;t get that not everybody has the things she has,&#8217; and I was trying to figure out something to do that wouldn&#8217;t ruin Santa for her.&#8221;</p><p>Russo reached out to friends for ideas that could help her daughter understand the plight of needy children. Someone suggested building Christmas Eve boxes to donate. So Russo began accepting donations at the tattoo studio at 57 North Main St., for Christmas Eve boxes, which include pajamas, microwavable popcorn, hot cocoa mix and holiday mugs. The boxes are given to children associated with the Luzerne Country Head Start Program. Donations will be accepted until Dec. 15.</p><p>Russo said they are trying to accommodate 298 children this year and are asking for pajamas, male or female, sizes 5 and 6 only, plastic mugs and Christmas gift bags. The drive has already received enough microwavable popcorn and hot cocoa mix to fill the need.</p><p>&#8220;A lot of those kids get shipped from the women&#8217;s shelter to go to school every day,&#8221; Russo said. &#8220;They&#8217;re very low-income, some no income &#8230; just little kids. Kids that need somebody to know that they care about them and love them. Little kids don&#8217;t understand the difference between wants and needs.&#8221;</p><p>Russo, with help from the community, has donated more than 800 boxes to Head Start over the last two years. More than 150 people have showed up to help organize and wrap the contents in the past. This year, volunteers are invited to join the the wrapping effort at 7 p.m. Dec. 16 at All Star Cheer Academy at 401 Coal St., Wilkes-Barre.</p><p>To help acquire donations, a Christmas Future benefit will be held at 8 p.m. Dec. 2 at Hun&#8217;s West Side Cafe, 570 Union St., Luzerne. Monetary and in-kind donations will be accepted. There will be a buffet for patrons, and music will be performed by Aaron Bruch of Breaking Benjamin with select members of the band and other special musical guests.</p><p>Anyone who donates at 570 or at Hun&#8217;s will receive a $25 gift card to 570 Tattoo Co. The studio opens from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Monday through Thursday and from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Pajamas, sizes 5 and 6, for both boys and girls, plastic mugs and gift bags are still needed at 570 Tattoo Co. for Christmas Eve boxes. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_Box12.jpg</photo0><caption0>Pajamas, sizes 5 and 6, for both boys and girls, plastic mugs and gift bags are still needed at 570 Tattoo Co. for Christmas Eve boxes. </caption0><photoCredit0>Submitted photos </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_Brilee12.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Brilee Russo, 8, helps her mom, Geena Russo, organize donations for Christmas Eve boxes which will be given to Head Start in Wilkes-Barre. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_Brilee12.jpg</photo1><caption1>Brilee Russo, 8, helps her mom, Geena Russo, organize donations for Christmas Eve boxes which will be given to Head Start in Wilkes-Barre. </caption1><photoCredit1>Submitted photos </photoCredit1></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>570 Tattoo Co. taking donations for annual Christmas Eve box drive</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Matt Mattei</p><p>mmattei@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Matt Mattei at 570-991-6651 or <a href="mailto:mmattei@gmail.com">mmattei@gmail.com</a></p></shirttailMeta></div>

570 Tattoo Co. accepting donations for Christmas Eve boxes to benefit Head Start in Wilkes-Barre