SHARON, PA. Ministry gets holiday wishes

Two groups surprised the children's ministry with a bus and other gifts.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR SHARON BUREAU
SHARON, Pa. -- Santa Claus came to town last night, but he wasn't driving a sleigh pulled by eight tiny reindeer.
The jolly old elf was driving a 15-passenger green and white bus and was followed by a red dump truck loaded with goodies.
His only stop -- West Hills Ministries in First Baptist Church at 301 W. State St.
He had a number of elves on his bus who announced they were representing the Strimbu Memorial Fund and O'Brien Children's Memorial Fund and were there to fill the ministries' wish list.
West Hill Ministries is a program for children started in 1991 by four churches on the city's West Hill -- First Baptist, St. John's Episcopal, Sacred Heart and First United Methodist.
It deals primarily in after-school and other programs for more than 100 West Hill children of school age.
It puts out a regular newsletter called The Scoop that always includes the WHM Wish List.
That list always features a 15-passenger bus at the top, and it was that list that came to the attention of the two memorial funds, said spokesman Paul O'Brien.
"We just took it as a project to make their Christmas wish come true," O'Brien said, as the bus and truckload of items, including an air hockey game, pool cues, various game balls and a laptop computer were delivered to the ministries' headquarters at 7 p.m. Monday.
The bus, which features a hydraulic lift for disabled passengers, came with the name West Hill Ministries on the side.
"We got a bus, we got a bus," several children chanted as the elves disembarked and began unloading packages from the dump truck.
The delivery was apparently one of the city's best-kept secrets.
"Didn't have a clue," said the Rev. John Trojak, senior pastor at First Baptist when asked if he knew the gifts were coming.
Father Mark Juchter of St. John's was likewise amazed.
"Wow. This is the most incredible Christmas present," he said.
Welcomed interruption
The young people were practicing for the annual Christmas musical when they were interrupted by the bus horn honking as it pulled into the church driveway.
As soon as the elves got off, they all clambered aboard to get a closer look at their new transportation.
"We can handle this type of disruption anytime," said the Rev. Cindy Swogger, ministries director.
"This is like the coolest thing," she announced to her young charges, adding, "In God, everything is possible."
There were two more gifts to be presented before Santa and his elves departed -- a pair of $500 checks to help finance the ministries' operations.
O'Brien said the two funds were helped by many others to fill the wish list. They included Rein Construction of Brookfield, Nick Strimbu Inc. of Brookfield, Cerni Motors Inc. of Youngstown, Super Shield of Youngstown, Flynn's Tires of Hermitage, Parts Room Supply of Youngstown, Dr. Joseph J. Fonagy of Brookfield, Steven O'Brien of Vienna, Anna Houlihan of Farrell and Liberty Steel Products of North Jackson.
Santa Claus was played by Rocco Vadala of Brookfield.