Hockey Helps the Homeless 5th Annual Tournament to take place October 26
As we begin to roll through September, it signifies the annual Hockey Helps the Homeless K-W tournament is once again upon us. This year marks the fifth annual tournament, as we continue to build on the success from last year’s $210,000 amount raised.
Since 2014, Hockey Helps the Homeless K-W has raised over $550,000 for local agencies which include the House of Friendship, YW Kitchener-Waterloo, Lutherwood Safe Haven Shelter, oneROOF Youth Services, and HHUG (Homelessness Housing Umbrella Group). Because of the efforts of everyone involved in the K-W Hockey Helps the Homeless tournament, the five local agencies we support were able to provide over 7600 shelter bed nights in the last four years.
The annual tournament is important as described by Sandy Dietrich-Bell from oneROOF Youth Services:
“In a country as rich as Canada, we should not have anyone sleeping out on the streets, let alone our young people. HHTH K-W helps to ensure that beds are available to both youth and adults….and beds save lives”.
Over 120 volunteers come together each year to put on this amazing event. Besides volunteering to assist the day of, there are many other ways you can get involved including some free agent player openings as well as becoming an Honorary Skater and joining the 17th team. The 17th team are for game changers within the community that aren’t on the ice skating, but still fundraising to help end homelessness.
The 2018 tournament takes place Friday, October 26th at RIM Park from 8am – 5pm. The general public can watch games for free, browse and bid in the giant silent auction, and maybe even meet some of the former NHL pros or Olympians. We also have a campaign called “Drop the Gloves”, where we are collecting new mitts, gloves, toques and scarves to distribute to the homeless agencies we support. Please consider bringing some items to the tournament.
More information can be found at the Hockey Helps the Homeless website: www.hockeyhelpsthehomeless.com or by following us year round on social media on Facebook: @HHTHKW and Twitter: @HHTHKW.
Hockey Helps the Homeless K-W thanks the Rangers for sponsoring and supporting all five tournaments, which have helped raise awareness around homelessness, as well as helping raise over $550,000 in four years.
On Friday, September 28th. it is Hockey Helps the Homeless’ game night at The Aud as the Rangers take on the visiting Ottawa 67’s at 7:30pm. You can find out more information on the tournament throughout the evening via the video board or by visiting the Community Corner. Don’t forget to bring new mitts, gloves, toques or scarves to the Community Corner on September 28th, as we will be collecting the items for our Drop the Gloves campaign.