West Deer 11-year-old collects gifts for Belair nursing home residents

A West Deer boy is giving back to the community in ways bigger than himself.

On Friday, Colton Petrosky, 11, distributed gift bags to more than 70 residents of Belair Healthcare and Rehabilitation in Lower Burrell.

Colton, dressed as an elf, made the rounds with Santa Claus.

“I just wanted to make sure they had something to have under their Christmas tree,” Colton said.

Colton’s cousin, Noah, started the project a couple of years ago when he was a student at Burrell High School. Colton took over the reins when Noah left for college, said his mother, Leslie Petrosky.

“He just wants to spread the Christmas cheer as much as he can,” she said.

The project is in honor of his late great-grandmother, who was a resident at Belair.

Colton collected items — such as soaps, shampoos and body wash, socks, lanyards, lotion, lip balm and puzzle books — and put them in gift bags to distribute to the residents.

Collecting the items came with the help from the Deer Lakes School District community. Team Upstanders, a club at Deer Lakes Middle School where Colton attends, supported a districtwide collection of the items.

Donation boxes were available at each district school building. Family, friends and community members also helped out.

“We got a lot of stuff,” Colton said. “I knew I was going to get some stuff, but I didn’t think it would be that much.”

Colton dubs the project Operation Merry and Bright. He wants it to be even bigger next year.

“It brings a tear to my husband and I,” his mother said, “that he is so thoughtful. And he’s thinking of others besides himself at this time of year.”