McSweeney’s WHL Community Collective: Spokane Chiefs
Spokane, Wash.- There’s dignity and confidence in choosing the clothes you wear.
But for many underprivileged youth, it’s something that is often out of their control.
That was top of mind for the Spokane Chiefs when the team hosted the Sturm Heating Clothing Drive benefiting Teen & Kid Closet.
The Spokane-based non-profit provides fashionable, high-quality clothing and accessories to young people across Washington and Northern Idaho for free.
During the Chiefs’ November 19 game against the Kamloops Blazers, fans donated more than 400 pounds of clothing, including coats, snow pants, socks, underwear, gloves and hats.
“To be able to provide the kids, the teens with that… It’s winter. It gets cold no matter where you are and not everybody is fortunate enough to be able to afford those items,” Head Coach Ryan Smith said. “To be able to provide them is huge.”
Alternate Captains Chase Bertholet and Ben Bonni, rookie Owen Martin and goaltender Dawson Cowan dropped off and helped sort the mountain of donations while getting a firsthand look at how great the need is in their community.
“It’s amazing to see the support,” Cowan said. “It puts into perspective how grateful I am and we are to play this game and how lucky we are to live the lives we live. A lot of people don’t have the same privileges we do. Anytime we can help people who are less privileged or can’t afford certain things, it’s pretty vital to do so.”
More than 120 young people, most of them living in foster care or experiencing poverty, visit Teen & Kid Closet every month.
Clients- ranging from infants to young adults up to 22 years old- are referred by social workers, counselors, teachers, pediatricians and other adults familiar with each person’s situation.
The Western Hockey League strives to promote and foster a welcoming environment in communities close to our 22 clubs in Western Canada and the Pacific Northwest. Every team has the creative freedom to allow their players and staff to work with the organizations and groups that they are most passionate about. The end goal is to create and maintain long-lasting relationships and ongoing partnerships within their community.
Through the McSweeney’s WHL Community Collective, we aim to highlight these outstanding initiatives done by each club throughout the season.
