Members of the Okotoks Oilers U11 AA hockey team are learning about looking after others in the community at an early age.
The players paid a visit to the Okotoks Food Bank last week to bring food and cash raised at a recent outdoor game.
Manager Denise Plouffe said the team, which includes boys from all over the Foothills, hosted a Calgary club at the outdoor rink in Diamond Valley in a Winter Classic-style game.
Organizers wanted to include a charitable component to the big game, so they asked everyone to bring donations for the food bank. They also held a raffle that raised $200.
Parent Laurinda Nemecek said the initiative aimed to instill in the boys the need to give back to others in the community. She said many of the older teams in the Oilers organization support the food bank and other causes, so the younger players are following their lead.
The team brought the raffle proceeds as well as 198 pounds of food, which filled several bins, to the food bank on Feb. 23.
Food bank executive director Pamela McLean was very appreciative of the donation, saying the entire Oilers organization has been incredibly supportive of the food bank over the years.
“It’s so heartwarming to look at all these faces and to see what they’re doing,” McLean said. “They're starting early to look after their fellow man. I think we’re in good hands given they’re looking out for us and they’re all under 11.”
