Hockey team helps with ‘wish list’ of struggling families

Tara Jeffrey Christmas will be a little brighter for two local families thanks to the Sarnia Sting Minor Bantam MD hockey team.

Tara Jeffrey

Christmas will be a little brighter for two local families thanks to the Sarnia Sting Minor Bantam MD hockey team.

The 17-member squad, comprised of 13-year-olds, sponsored the families through the Inn of the Good Shepherd — fulfilling their holiday ‘wish lists’ — a tradition the team has held the past four years.

“Each family contributes. It’s something that we look forward to every year,” said hockey mom Jamie Frew.

“We have a total of 15 sponsors (local businesses) each year that donate to us to help our team, so this is kind of our way of paying it forward … just teaching the boys that there is more to just playing hockey.”

The Inn’s ‘Adopt-a-Family’ program pairs local businesses, families, churches and service clubs with a family unable to provide their children with Christmas presents.

Kids provide a ‘wish list’ for Santa and receive the gifts on Christmas morning.