Mercer County Career Center Logistics Program Partners on Countywide Toys for Tots Collection and Distribution
Second year of partnership with Mercer County Family Services delivers 6,190 toys and 1,750 stocking stuffers to 1,490 children in 812 families.
Mercer, Pa. — December 9, 2025 — The Mercer County Career Center (MCCC) Logistics and Supply Chain Management Program partnered with Mercer County Family Services to serve as Mercer County’s central collection, sorting, and pick‑up hub for this year’s U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots campaign. Now in its second year of collaboration, the countywide effort delivered 6,190 toys and 1,750 stocking stuffers to 1,490 children across 812 families in Mercer County.
“Logistics is about planning, precision, and teamwork—and our students put those skills to work for our community,” said Tony Miller, Administrative Director at MCCC. “We’re proud to partner with Mercer County Family Services and grateful to every donor and volunteer who helped bring holiday cheer to local families.”
A Fall-to-Winter Operation, Powered by Students
Planning for the campaign begins early in the fall. In the weeks leading up to distribution, MCCC’s Logistics students—working alongside representatives from Mercer County Family Services—manage six intensive days of operations to receive, sort, stage, and distribute donations. The hub model streamlines delivery to local agencies, ensures accurate family matching, and enables efficient, scheduled pick‑ups.
Support was also provided by students from MCCC’s Carpentry, Diesel, and Culinary Arts programs. Carpentry students assisted with staging and construction of sorting stations; Diesel students supported transportation and equipment readiness; Culinary students offered hospitality and meal support for volunteers—each program contributing essential services to keep the campaign running smoothly.
By the Numbers (Mercer County, 2025)
6,190 toys collected and distributed
1,750 stocking stuffers delivered
812 families served
1,490 children reached
6 days of collection, sorting, and distribution
Voices from the Partnership
“This partnership exemplifies how education and community service can intersect,” said Sherri Valimont from Mercer County Family Services. “The dedication of MCCC students and staff ensures that every child in Mercer County experiences the joy of the holiday season.”
“This is more than a class project—it’s real-world logistics in action,” said Mike Whalen, Logistics and Supply Chain Management Instructor at MCCC. “Our students gain hands-on experience in material handling, inventory management, and customer service while making a meaningful impact in their community.”
About the Mercer County Career Center
Mercer County Career Center (MCCC) is a comprehensive career and technical education center serving high school students and adult learners across Mercer County. MCCC’s programs—including Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Carpentry, Diesel, and Culinary—combine rigorous classroom instruction with hands‑on, real‑world experiences that prepare students for immediate employment and postsecondary success.
About Mercer County Family Services
Mercer County Family Services coordinates vital assistance and outreach programs for families across the county, including holiday giving initiatives like Toys for Tots. Through partnerships with schools, agencies, and volunteers, the organization ensures resources reach families efficiently and equitably.
Second year of partnership with Mercer County Family Services delivers 6,190 toys and 1,750 stocking stuffers to 1,490 children in 812 families.
Mercer, Pa. — December 9, 2025 — The Mercer County Career Center (MCCC) Logistics and Supply Chain Management Program partnered with Mercer County Family Services to serve as Mercer County’s central collection, sorting, and pick‑up hub for this year’s U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots campaign. Now in its second year of collaboration, the countywide effort delivered 6,190 toys and 1,750 stocking stuffers to 1,490 children across 812 families in Mercer County.
“Logistics is about planning, precision, and teamwork—and our students put those skills to work for our community,” said Tony Miller, Administrative Director at MCCC. “We’re proud to partner with Mercer County Family Services and grateful to every donor and volunteer who helped bring holiday cheer to local families.”
A Fall-to-Winter Operation, Powered by Students
Planning for the campaign begins early in the fall. In the weeks leading up to distribution, MCCC’s Logistics students—working alongside representatives from Mercer County Family Services—manage six intensive days of operations to receive, sort, stage, and distribute donations. The hub model streamlines delivery to local agencies, ensures accurate family matching, and enables efficient, scheduled pick‑ups.
Support was also provided by students from MCCC’s Carpentry, Diesel, and Culinary Arts programs. Carpentry students assisted with staging and construction of sorting stations; Diesel students supported transportation and equipment readiness; Culinary students offered hospitality and meal support for volunteers—each program contributing essential services to keep the campaign running smoothly.
By the Numbers (Mercer County, 2025)
6,190 toys collected and distributed
1,750 stocking stuffers delivered
812 families served
1,490 children reached
6 days of collection, sorting, and distribution
Voices from the Partnership
“This partnership exemplifies how education and community service can intersect,” said Sherri Valimont from Mercer County Family Services. “The dedication of MCCC students and staff ensures that every child in Mercer County experiences the joy of the holiday season.”
“This is more than a class project—it’s real-world logistics in action,” said Mike Whalen, Logistics and Supply Chain Management Instructor at MCCC. “Our students gain hands-on experience in material handling, inventory management, and customer service while making a meaningful impact in their community.”
About the Mercer County Career Center
Mercer County Career Center (MCCC) is a comprehensive career and technical education center serving high school students and adult learners across Mercer County. MCCC’s programs—including Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Carpentry, Diesel, and Culinary—combine rigorous classroom instruction with hands‑on, real‑world experiences that prepare students for immediate employment and postsecondary success.
About Mercer County Family Services
Mercer County Family Services coordinates vital assistance and outreach programs for families across the county, including holiday giving initiatives like Toys for Tots. Through partnerships with schools, agencies, and volunteers, the organization ensures resources reach families efficiently and equitably.
It's that time of the year again! Each program gets to decorate their own Christmas Tree. Which tree do you think looks best?
Thank you to everyone who stopped by during our Open House! We hope you were stoked to see the building and talk with our instructors. Hopefully we see you at next year's Open House!
Cosmetology Seniors got to decorate some mannequin heads however they wanted. The heads were then voted for by MCCC staff and students to see who wins.
The winners are:
1st place: Flower Garden by Megan Campbell
2nd place: The Grinch by Nastaija Green
3rd place: Star Wars by Riley Michaleski
The winners are:
1st place: Flower Garden by Megan Campbell
2nd place: The Grinch by Nastaija Green
3rd place: Star Wars by Riley Michaleski
Congratulations to Allison Succheralli for being nominated for this week's Senior Spotlight! Always making the tastiest of food and taking charge in the kitchen, Allison is hard at work in Culinary Arts. We can't wait to see what else you accomplish!
Mercer County Career Center will be operating as normal for the afternoon session today (12/02/25). Students are expected to attend. Be safe and drive carefully!
Mercer County Career Center (MCCC) is having their annual Open House this Thursday the 20th from 6pm-8pm! Make sure to come out and check out what MCCC has to offer!
This Senior Spotlight focuses on Dmitri Pyatetsky who is in our Collision Repair & Refinishing program. Dmitri is also out on Cooperative Education. He is a hard working student with great work ethic. Keep on working hard, we cannot wait to see your success! Congratulations!
Representatives from the Mercer County Builders Association and the Pennsylvania Builders Association visited the Mercer County Career Center (MCCC) to present Mr. Powers with the Outstanding Professional Program Award in recognition of the school’s Carpentry Program.
With more than one hundred Pennsylvania Builders Association–endorsed trade programs across the state, this award highlights MCCC’s Carpentry Program as a model of excellence in career and technical education. Under Mr. Powers’ leadership, the program continues to prepare students with the skills, craftsmanship, and professionalism needed to succeed in the building trades. Congratulations Mr. Powers!
Congratulations to these students for being inducted into the National Technical Honor Society (NTHS)! The following is a list of new inductees:
Greenville - Lucas Achenbach (Computer IT) & Joseph Kiss (Welding)
Grove City - Ryan Geahry (Welding), Grayden Hurst (Diesel Technology), & Easton Snow (Welding)
Jamestown - Sophia Hart (Health Care Careers)
Kennedy Catholic - Ian Mehallick (Carpentry)
Lakeview - Leigha Marstellar (Health Care Careers)
Mercer - CJ Hartman (Computer Programming), Derrick King (Carpentry), & Dominic Thompson (Computer IT)
Reynolds - Lillian Devaney (Computer IT), Gracie McLaughlin (Cosmetology), Maddox Snyder (Diesel Technology), Allison Succheralli (Culinary Arts), & Alec Swogger (Computer IT)
Sharon - Sabiel Karakra (Health Care Careers) & Nicholas Weselek (Cosmetology)
Sharpsville - Stephen Callahan (Computer IT), Connor Dottle (Electrical Occupations), Nidhi Patel (Health Care Careers), & Carter Williamson (Computer IT)
Homeschooled - Zachary Sippola (Electrical Occupations)
With returning members: Twylah Salvador (Cosmetology/Jamestown), Brooke Eakin (Health Care Careers/Grove City), Abby Geiwitz (Cosmetology/West Middlesex), Lily Gibson (Cosmetology/Lakeview), Megan Campbell (Cosmetology/Homeschool) Nastaija Green (Cosmetology/Sharon)
Greenville - Lucas Achenbach (Computer IT) & Joseph Kiss (Welding)
Grove City - Ryan Geahry (Welding), Grayden Hurst (Diesel Technology), & Easton Snow (Welding)
Jamestown - Sophia Hart (Health Care Careers)
Kennedy Catholic - Ian Mehallick (Carpentry)
Lakeview - Leigha Marstellar (Health Care Careers)
Mercer - CJ Hartman (Computer Programming), Derrick King (Carpentry), & Dominic Thompson (Computer IT)
Reynolds - Lillian Devaney (Computer IT), Gracie McLaughlin (Cosmetology), Maddox Snyder (Diesel Technology), Allison Succheralli (Culinary Arts), & Alec Swogger (Computer IT)
Sharon - Sabiel Karakra (Health Care Careers) & Nicholas Weselek (Cosmetology)
Sharpsville - Stephen Callahan (Computer IT), Connor Dottle (Electrical Occupations), Nidhi Patel (Health Care Careers), & Carter Williamson (Computer IT)
Homeschooled - Zachary Sippola (Electrical Occupations)
With returning members: Twylah Salvador (Cosmetology/Jamestown), Brooke Eakin (Health Care Careers/Grove City), Abby Geiwitz (Cosmetology/West Middlesex), Lily Gibson (Cosmetology/Lakeview), Megan Campbell (Cosmetology/Homeschool) Nastaija Green (Cosmetology/Sharon)
Make money and get your credits to graduate through Cooperative Education! These students are hard at work, ready for whatever the work world brings their way!
Some of our Culinary students helped prepare breakfast for some of our JOC members last week. Everything was DELICIOUS!
Good luck to Adam - who is in our Sports Medicine program at MCCC - and his team as they compete in the District 10 semi-finals game this Friday @ Slippery Rock University!
These are some of our students who are out on Cooperative Education. Congratulations to these students for working hard and proving that MCCC will help you with your future!
Last week we had a Career Fair for our students to speak with local businesses, colleges, and military recruiters about what their future plans might be. It was a great opportunity for our students to see how many paths there are after graduation! Thank you to everyone who participated in this year's event!
Congratulations to November's AM and PM Stylist of the Month! AM is Gracie McLaughlin and PM is Kelci Verrill. Keep up the great work! The criteria for becoming Stylist of the Month involves Attendance & Punctuality, Academics & Skill Development, Clinic Performance & Professionalism, and Attitude & Teamwork.
This Senior Spotlight is Brayden Bayer. He has spent the last few years learning how to keep the world moving — mastering supply chains, transportation systems, and operations management. Known for his strong work ethic and attention to detail, Brayden is ready to take on the fast-paced world of logistics. Congrats! We're proud of all you've accomplished and are excited to see what's next!
Hickory's Senior Spotlight is one of MCCC's in the Electrical Occupations Program. Congratulations Amaree Gillespie! Can't wait to see what you accomplish!
There are great opportunities at MCCC! These students are out on Cooperative Education, making money and getting their credits to graduate all at the same time! Way to go!
Some students in Computer Information Tech had the opportunity to visit Thiel College last week for a Cybersecurity Summit. At the summit they listened to an Industry Panel, Education Panel, and Military/Government Panel on how Cybersecurity is integrated within each category. What a great experience!
