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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; The staircase located near the main entrance of Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre was filled with both parents and children Saturday who were eagerly standing in line to get a few minutes with none other than Santa Claus himself.</p><p>&#8220;Motorcycling Santa,&#8221; sponsored by the Geisinger Wyoming Valley Auxiliary and the North East Federation of Clubs, a motorcycle club, sponsored a toy drive as well as a chance for kids to meet one on one with Santa.</p><p>The day also included child-friendly activities such as face painting and arts and crafts.</p><p>Santa made his entrance via motorcycle with a procession of about 80 motorcyclists from the club behind him. Some 400 toys were collected by Geisinger and the club. Members of the auxiliary also collected gently used coats and assembled snack bags for the children. In addition, Auntie Anne&#8217;s donated pretzels.</p><p>After meeting with Santa, each child was given a special gift.</p><p>Volunteers from Kistler Elementary, including 16 teachers and administrators, helped with the party as well as nursing students from Misericordia University.</p><p>&#8220;The ultimate reward is the smile on the kid&#8217;s face when Santa gives them a gift,&#8221; said Justin Correll, assistant principal of Kistler, as he stood near the top of the staircase guiding people in line.</p><p>Principal Margo Serafini said she saw quite a few of her students at the party and the school was more than happy to assist with the &#8220;fabulous&#8221; community event.</p><p>Laine Martin, an auxiliary organizer, played the role of an elf and her husband played Santa when the high school sweethearts volunteered at the event as teenagers back when the facility was known as Mercy Hospital.</p><p>She said the public response to the toy drive has been overwhelming.</p><p>&#8220;People have been so appreciative,&#8221; Martin said. Twice as many toys were needed this year as the number of children registered has grown a great deal since last year.</p><p>Chantel Sawchak, of Nanticoke, attended with her 1-and-a-half-year-old daughter Elise and said she would definitely come back as there was something to do for children of all ages. &#8220;It&#8217;s very cute and age appropriate,&#8221; she said.</p><p>Aida Rodriguez, of Wilkes-Barre, came with her three boys and her children&#8217;s godmother and her daughter, who were visiting the Rodriguezes from Los Angeles.</p><p>Rodriguez said all three of her sons enjoyed it immensely and were not too old to get excited about meeting Santa. &#8220;You can see the light on their faces,&#8221; she said.</p><p>Jelyel, 8, said he liked seeing Santa Claus riding down the street on a motorcycle and 12-year-old Janiel liked making ornaments, which he will take home and hang on his family&#8217;s tree.</p><p>About 280 children registered for the event, and it&#8217;s expected to keep growing year after year.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Santa waves to both parents and children in the lobby of Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre before heading upstairs Saturday during a community Christmas party. The &#8220;Motorcycling Santa&#8221; event included a toy drive, one-on-one meetings with Santa, face painting, and arts and crafts. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/web1_toydrive2-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Santa waves to both parents and children in the lobby of Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre before heading upstairs Saturday during a community Christmas party. The &#8220;Motorcycling Santa&#8221; event included a toy drive, one-on-one meetings with Santa, face painting, and arts and crafts. </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/web1_toydrive1-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Santa Claus greets excited children waiting for him Saturday as he arrives at a community Christmas party arranged by Geisinger Health System and motorcycle club North East Federation of Clubs. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/web1_toydrive1-1.jpg</photo1><caption1>Santa Claus greets excited children waiting for him Saturday as he arrives at a community Christmas party arranged by Geisinger Health System and motorcycle club North East Federation of Clubs. </caption1><photoCredit1></photoCredit1></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>Children out in droves for Geisinger SWB event</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Kulsoom Khan</p><p>kkhan@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div>

Geisinger and motorcycle club team up for Christmas toy drive