Some 500 pounds of food and almost $3,000 in cash were raised by the Etobicoke Hockey Club for the Daily Bread Food Bank.
Hockey players helping the less fortunate in our community.
Members of the Etobicoke Hockey Club have donated five large bins of food and cash to the Daily Bread Food Bank following a campaign to help the needy.
The 500 pounds of food and almost $3,000 in cash were handed over to the Food Bank, on New Toronto Street, on December 18 so they can continue to help others in the community.
Former Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Mike Pelyk is one of the players with the club.
The Food Bank is at its busiest this time of the year as a record high of more than 12,000 new people access member food banks for the first time each month. They said with staggering food inflation and rising rents, they are bracing for these numbers to keep rising.
“This far exceeded last year’s donations and will go a long way to assist many in need in our community,” said club member Dave Clancy. “This is through the incredible spirit and generosity of our teammates, alumni, families and friends.”
Former City of Etobicoke and later Toronto Mayor Doug Holyday also plays in the club.
The items were raised during a free December 10 Etobicoke Hockey Club (EHC) Christmas skate at the Ford Performance Centre, at 400 Kipling Avenue, in which about 125 skaters who turned up were urged to bring non-perishable foods and cash.
The EHC was founded in 1975 and members include former NHL and AHL players, including ex-politicians, whose ages range from 55 to 80.
“We are fortunate to be here and playing with our group,” Clancy said. “We have been supporting different charities for many years.”
Former PC Member of Parliament Morley Kells plays on the team.
They also collected pet food which will be donated to a Mississauga animal care centre.
Among the EHC players are former Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Mike Pelyk; and Doug Holyday, now retired after serving as the last Mayor of Etobicoke from 1994 to 1998 and Deputy Mayor of Toronto from 2010 to 2013.
Another member was ex-lacrosse player and politician Morley Kells, who was a PC member of the Government of Ontario from 1981 to 1985 and again from 1995 to 2003, and was briefly a cabinet minister in the government of former Premier Frank Miller.