It's not every day you get a chance to see what kind of direct impact you can have on someone's life, but today, the Eau Claire North Huskies and the ECA Stars did just that.
After gathering pledges and pedaling through a rainy 8 AM, 25 mile Halloween Hunger Ride, the teams today toured the Feed My People Food (FMP) bank and presented checks to help make a difference in many people's lives here in the Chippewa Valley. With their total donation to FMP today, the teams bring their 2 year total to over $2,300 in funds raised for the cause.
Assistant Huskies Coach Kevin Hickey reflected on the meaning of what the teams accomplished, "every one in five kids in this area wonder daily about where their next meal is going to come from, the kind of thing most take for granted. This is an opportunity to show them just how good they have it and that this isn't just about hockey, it's about being a part of the community and giving back."
Hickey spoke during a guided tour of the facility where donations are gathered and food delivery coordinated throughout the Western Wisconsin area. "To see how much food they (FMP) can buy with $25 hopefully makes these kids appreciate more what they have," said 2nd year Head Coach Ryan Parker. "It's about building character, making good choices and creating a good culture to work within. That's the big picture."
ECA Stars Head Coach Tom Bernhardt's squad joined the Huskies this year and saw first-hand what an impact it can make.
"Fund-raising is a necessity in today's athletics environment and we were pleased to join in with Coach Parker and do something that was bigger than just selling coupon books. Hopefully, we'll be able to continue to partner with the Huskies Boy's team and make this an annual event. It was neat to see the kind of leverage they have in the buying process and just how many benefit from that effort. Real proud of all the kids."
The Stars opened regular season play with an 8-4 win over Superior over the weekend, while the Huskies drop the puck on their 2015-2016 campaign tonight against Sparta at Hobb's in Eau Claire.
