Number of Participants: 20
Hours Donated: 5
Value of Time Served: $845
Event Type: Children & Youth
Sport: Boys Ice Hockey
Date: December 9, 2021
Location:
St. John's Preparatory School
Spring Street, Danvers
MA
About:
I have 20 kids on the St. John’s Prep Junior Varsity team.
I asked the kids to go out and get a toy for an elementary school kid ages 4-11, boy or girl around $20. I explained to them how lucky they are to be able to have the things they have, play hockey, and have the opportunity to attend the Prep and get an incredible education. I also explained to them that there will be kids that will not get any presents for Christmas this year either. Its a great way to show there are more important things out there.
They all took the time to go out shopping and personally pick something up for a kid. They told me they enjoyed doing it, and all hope that it makes some kids Christmas a little brighter.
The program I chose is run by the Peabody Police Dept, by Captain Scott Wlasuk. He has been doing this program for well over 25 years. He gets the names of the kids that are in need from the 8 elementary school principals in Peabody and begins his collections. For years Toys R Us used to help out a ton with donations, so thats why now its important to get people involved, where they are no longer in Business.
I chose this program, as I not only live in the city of Peabody, but I have a daughter in the 1st grade, and I see some of the kids daily who this may benefit. I also am a Peabody Police Officer, so I have seen 1st hand how this has impacted the kids in our community.
I try to do 1 event each month during the season with the kids. This is usually our December project. In January we will be going to the Peabody Haven From Hunger on 2 separate Thursdays for about 2-3 hours each time. They have a program called “No child goes hungry in Peabody”.
This program provides meals for kids on the weekends who might not have it provided at home. School Committee member Jarrod Hochman created it a few years ago. They have hundreds of backpacks donated to the program. Every Thursday afternoon/evening they pack the bags with enough healthy food to provide 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, and 3 dinners, as well as snacks. They then deliver them to the 8 elementary schools to the kids who need it. Those kids usually during the week get free or reduced lunch in school, so they are taken care of there, but not on the weekends.
I split the team into 2 groups, so we help out 2 weeks in a row. The Boys Always have a great time doing it!