‘All-out blitz’
Big charity food drive, hockey event set for Mount Pearl this weekend
What started out as a small food drive by minor hockey players in Mount Pearl has turned a massive city-wide endeavour
And this year will be its biggest ever, with national television coverage.
The 2019 Rogers Hometown Hockey Tour will be making a stop in Mount Pearl this weekend as part of its travels across the country to highlight various communities, share local hockey stories and feature local star players.
With hosts Sportsnet’s Ron Maclean and Tara Slone, it will broadcast live at the Summit and the Glacier arena Sunday evening, Nov. 18.
The Rogers three-day event will coincide with the seventh annual Mount Pearl Minor Hockey Association (MPMHA) food drive on Saturday.
“(The food drive) started out small, with the kids going doorto-door picking up some food items to bring to the food bank,” MPMHA past-president Dave Edney told The Telegram.
“But every year, it got more organized to the point that it’s become this huge community event. It’s an all-out
blitz in the city.”
Several other community groups, including the Lions Club, Kinsmen club, the Mount Pearl Figure Skating Club, Scouts Canada, Newfoundland Five-pin Bowling Association, Mount Pearl Basketball Association,
all four local supermarkets, have come on board to help out.
“It’s going to be the largest ever,” Edney told The Telegram. “We’re really excited about it.”
As part of the Rogers event, several events will be held, beginning Friday night and
running until Sunday, including movie night, ball hockey games, shooting skill contests, a barbeque and a parade, which will feature hundreds of minor hockey players, coaches and volunteers.
Edney said the food is donated to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul’s food banks, which is seeing a record need for food items this year.
“The need is so great this year,” said Edney, adding the goal this year is to collect 50,000 food items and $5,000. Minor hockey games and tournaments will be on hold for the day while players go door-to-door to collect.
Edney said when minor hockey players drop off the items to the food bank, they will get a tour and hear from the coordinators.
“It gives the kids a real look into what they’re doing and why,” he said.
“It’s a great lesson for the kids and for all of us.”
Edney hopes the group effort for the food bank collection can continue in future years, even when Rogers is gone.
“Even when Rogers is gone,” he said, “it’d be great if we can keep this going.”
“It’s going to be the largest ever. We’re really excited about it.”
MPMHA past-president Dave Edney