Hawks For Hunger All Players must be Involved, News, Midget A, 2013-2014, REP (Caledon Minor Hockey Association)

All Players must be involved - What Is the Hawks 4 Hunger Program?Hawks 4 Hunger is a homegrown initiative of the Caledon Hawks Rep Hockey Association;  the program is simple, minor hockey teams raise food and funds to help support our local area food bank “The Exchange” in  Caledon.  For the 2013-2014 season, the Caledon Hawks Rep Hockey Association is pleased to partner with the Mississauga Steelheads, and Caledon Community Services.   

In 2012,  our inaugural year of collection,  the Caledon Hawks Rep Hockey Association collected over 42,000lbs of food.  This was an outstanding contribution and made a huge impact in support the food bank and provisioning to those in need.  This year our goal is to surpass the 42,000lbs of food.

All Caledon Hawks Rep teams will be challenged to collect even more food and/or cash donations for the newly designed Caledon Community Services “The Exchange”  in 2103.  In recognition for these efforts, teams will be awarded in the following ways: 

·         All participating teams will receive 20 free tickets to a Mississauga Steelheads game on February 28^th, 2014 7:30 pm vs.Oshawa Generals at the Hershey Centre in Mississauga

·         The team that collects the most donations by weight or cash between Tyke & Novice will keep us entertained on ice during intermission with a mini hockey game for the Caledon Day celebration          February 28^th at the Hershey Centre.

 

1^st Place:  The team that collects the most donations by weight or cash ($1 = 1.5lbs of food) will receive:

·         Recognition in an on ice ceremony before the Mississauga Steelheads game vs Oshawa Generals, February 28^th 2014 @ 7:30pm

·         Box seats for 20 people

·         A one-hour practice session in Caledon with the Mississauga Steelheads Coaching Staff and some Steelhead players

·         Time frames TBD based on Steelhead scheduling

 

2^nd Place:  A one-hour practice session in Caledon with the Mississauga Steelheads Coaching Staff and some Steelhead Players

·         Time frames TBD based on Steelhead scheduling

 

 

3^rd Place:   A one-hour practice session in Caledon with the Mississauga Steelheads Coaching Staff and some Steelhead Players

·         Time frames TBD based on Steelhead scheduling

 

This program has naturally helped build community awareness about the often-hidden issue of poverty in Caledon by linking it to the well-recognized love of hockey.   It will also provide our players an opportunity to demonstrate leadership off the ice along with the meaningful experience of community service & volunteerism. 

Where:  Albion Bolton Arena (Agricultural Building)

When:   (November 9^th/10^th 2013) – will coincide with Rep Team Picture Day

Why:    The need for a well stocked Food Bank exists in Caledon despite the relative affluence of the community

The Caledon Emergency Food Program provided by Caledon Community Services has experienced significant increases in the number of people assisted over the past few years.

·         Over 850 people in Caledon use the CCS Food Bank

·         Over 250 families

·         1,660 food certificates were distributed by CCS to date

What:  Items in need are as follows:

·         Canned chicken/ham/turkey & fish

·         Canned fruits & vegetables 

·         Sauces for Pasta

·         Cereal, Oatmeal, Peanut Butter & Jams

·         Juice Boxes, Coffee & Tea

·         Toiletries, Shampoo, Conditioner, Dental Floss

·         Saran, Ziploc Bags, Aluminum Foil & Bathroom Tissue

·         Cash is always appreciated as are Grocery Gift Cards

How:  Coach/Team Manager Responsibilities per CHRA 2013 Team:

• Allocate a Parent Volunteer to promote the Hawks 4 Hunger Food program amongst the team
• Use an “Outweigh the Coaches” or “Donate Your Weight” challenge to get the kids excited....have fun with it!
• Promote that our children do the food shopping or contribute some of their pocket money toward gift cards or food

Communicate to all parents to check the expiration dates on items prior to submission to the food bank collection drive  -  as all expired food will be disposed of

·         Realize that $1 = 1.5lbs of food toward the Mississauga Steelheads Game incentive

·         Participation is expected from all teams  - challenge is out for 1,000lbs of food/team

·         Encourage your team to look in Garden Foods, Walmart and Zehrs Marketplace for specially designed CCS tags that will identify to shoppers  which items  are in need

·         The weekend of November 9^th/10^th – George’s Arena Sports (Bolton Arena) is donating half of all skate sharpening proceeds to Caledon Community Services – stay sharp!!

·         Tax receipts will be issued for monetary donations over $20 by Caledon Community Services directly

·         Any food/donations collected prior to the November 9^th/10^th challenge days is recommended to be stored until the day of the event by a team member 

There will also be a free used hockey equipment exchange tables located in the Agricultural Building.

 

Thanking you all for your efforts in advance,  – we have every confidence the Caledon Rep Hockey Association will not only meet; but exceed our expectations if we all work together as a hockey community in promoting this very important cause.

You will receive contact information soon to order any extra tickets for Caledon Night at the Steelheads.  For more information, please contact:

 

     Maria Ellis                                    Sheryl Lowe                                     Glen Davis   

 [email protected]              [email protected]                   [email protected]