LIONS PARTICIPATE IN WALLY WARMTH WEEKEND

Saturday, January 8, 2011

JUST BEFORE HOLIDAY BREAK THE PSU ICE HOCKEY TEAM GAVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY, BY PARTICIPATING IN THE WALLY WARMTH PROJECT. FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW THE PLAYERS, COACHES, AND MANAGERS GAVE UP A FEW HOURS OF THEIR SUNDAY MORNING FOR A GOOD CAUSE. THE PROGRAM IS FOR DISADVANTAGE CHILDREN WHO ARE NOT FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE THE EVERYDAY ESSENTIALS. THE MORNING STARTS WITH EVERY PLAYER BEING ASSIGNED A CHILD TO CHAPERONE THROUGHOUT THE MORNING. THE PLAYER STARTS BY JOING THE CHILD FOR A LITE BREAKFAST. EVERY CHIILD BRINGS A WISH LIST OF ITEMS FROM WINTER COATS, BOOTS, GLOVES, HATS, JEANS, SHIRTS, AND IN SOME INSTANCES EVEN SOCKS. JCPENNY PROVIDES EACH PLAYER A GIFT CARD BETWEEN $125 AND $250 DEPENDING ON THE CHILDS AGE. THEN THROUGH THE MORNING THE PLAYERS HELP THEIR CHILDRENS WISH LIST COME TRUE. BY THE END OF THE MORNING THE PLAYERS HAVE TOUCHED THE LIVES OF SOME YOUNG CHILDREN, AND THOSE SAME CHILDREN HAVE TOUCHED THE HEARTS OF THE PSU PLAYERS. ONE PLAYER WAS QUOTED AS SAYING, "YOU DON'T REALIZE HOW MUCH WE TAKE FOR GRANTED, WITH OUR FANCY CARS, FLAT SCREEN TV's, COMPUTERS, IPODS, AND PLAYSTATIONS; ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU SEE THE SMILE ON A CHILD'S FACE WHEN THEY GET A BRAND NEW WINTER COAT".