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PTI Students Giving Back This Holiday With The Santa Project

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- From toys to games to clothing, the students at the Pittsburgh Technical Institute are busy wrapping all sorts of presents, gifts that will go to children and families throughout the community.

"I think it's awesome," said Kyle Miller, a PTI student. "Kids that don't get to have Christmas get to have Christmas, and get toys. I think it's just a good thing."

"It's incredible," said Mark Bellemare, PTI's community service coordinator. "I mean, at this point it's sometimes difficult to see who benefits the most - the people receiving it or the people that are behind me that are actually volunteering their time."

The PTI students, teachers and staff also offered up their money.

Together, they collected more than $3,000 for this year's Santa Project. It's been a tradition at PTI for the past 15 years.

This time around, roughly 250 children - some living at the Bradley Center - will have gifts under the tree.

"It makes you feel good that, growing up I got to have Christmas, and now I get to spread the joy," Miller said.

In addition to all of the gifts going to children in the area, boxes filled with supplies like toothbrushes, pillows and blankets will be handed out to the homeless.

Some of the presents will also go to a nursing home in the area. The project helps so many, including the volunteers.

"Some of them have come from a lifestyle that benefited from a Santa Project like this in the past, and others are pretty surprised to see people that would need some of the help we are giving them today," said Bellemare.

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