Hitmen show support for Ronald McDonald House
In preparation for the Stollery Family Day Classic the NW362 Hitmen began to raise money through bottle drives and selling tickets on a basket, but the team parents wanted to have the kids fundraise in a way they could see the impact they were having. On February 4th the NW362 Hitmen, a Peewee team from Whitemud West, went to Ronald McDonald House to donate toys and prepare meals as part of an initiative called Meals that Mend Frozen Edition. This program was created by Allison Secord and Caryn Halstead, who work for Edmonton Fire Rescue Services, to ensure families have access to home cooked meals while they support their children through illness in the hospital. The Edmonton Firefighters Union Local 209 sponsors the program so that all volunteers need to provide are the groceries and time to prepare the meals with the help of Chef Matt Mang.
The meals created by this team were then placed in the program freezers; which are located in the Royal Alexandra Hospital, the Stollery Children’s Hospital, the Grey Nun’s Community Hospital, and the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital. These freezers mean 350 meals need to be prepared and delivered each month so the program is always looking for additional help making meals. The Hitmen prepared 211 meals the afternoon of February 4th and would like to challenge the rest of Hockey Edmonton’s teams to #DropTheGloves with them by participating in the Meals that Mend Frozen Edition. Can your team beat their total?
To learn more about Meals that Mend Frozen Edition please click here.
The team has learned a lot from their experience with the program and wants to return again to prepare more meals to be frozen for families affected by childhood hospitalizations. The players see first hand the impact giving back can have and how they can work as a team off the ice to make their community a better place.
Hockey Edmonton is thankful we have teams like these representing us in the community and encourages you to let us know about your efforts.
