PENGUINS GIVE BACK

Local youth ice hockey team remembers others at Christmas

POTTSTOWN >> A local youth ice hockey team recently got into the spirit of the season by gathering to help local families enjoy Christmas.

The Pottstown Penguins, with about 45 players ages 4-11 years, along with their parents and siblings, adopted three local families through The Salvation Army.

The Penguins’ group purchased, donated and wrapped over 100 gifts for those in need.

“I have been adopting families through The Salvation Army for 10 years. The last few years I had been the only person taking on families (from The Salvation Army),” said Pottstown Penguin Mites Team Manager Adrienne Heaberlin. “I didn’t want to see any family go without on Christmas. We have the best family organization (The Pottstown Penguins) and I knew they would jump to action to help our local community. When I spoke to Ben at The Salvation Army in November he told me he had three fam

ilies this year and no other volunteers to help. I immediately told him I would take them all and the Pottstown Penguins Youth Ice Hockey would be fulfilling their wish lists.”

Everyone on the team wanted to help.

John Wiese, 9½, Squirt Gold (in his 5th season with the Penguins) said, “I think it’s a good thing to do because some people in the world don’t have much to eat or anything of their own. We should help them because they are in need and we have to help if we can!”

The three adopted families, headed by single moms, were chosen through The Salvation Army’s Pathway of Hope initiative. The children range from 18 months to 12 years old. One of the mothers is expecting a baby.

The families each have a wish list including everything from infant car seats, to clothing and toys, to bikes, microwaves, basic household goods and grocery gift cards.

“For some families, they are just moving from the shelter and have nothing. I get everything from cleaning supplies to bedding and towels and grocery gift cards for the parents and coats and warm boots for children. I have had contact with the families over the years and they are generally grateful to receive just 1 item. Yet, we make sure we get all of them (items on their list) plus some,” explained Heaberlin. “Every item has been purchased by a member of our organization. We did not seek out donations from stores or use raised funds to purchase the gifts. This is why I wholeheartedly believe we have the best family organization. No one questioned it when we asked for their help.”

The families’ entire wish list is completely fulfilled. Each child will receive six or seven toys and two outfits to open on Christmas morning. In addition, the Penguins plan to include a few hundred dollars in grocery gift cards for each mother.

“We are donating, snow pants, sweaters, slippers and boots, said 10-yearold Logan Davidheiser. “I learned to be grateful and that some people don’t have things they need. It is nice to do things for other people, especially around Christmas time.”

“I wanted to participate because I play for the Pottstown Penguins and I like to help people at Christmas with things they need ... and I like to wrap presents,” said 7-year-old Ashlyn Davidheiser.

Lennox Negron, 8, said that he wanted to participate to give back to kids and families that don’t have a Christmas. In participating he’s learned some families do not have it as easy on Christmas that it’s good to give back to people who need help. He said, “no kid should have a sad Christmas!”

“We do not share the names of the adopted kids with our players but we wanted them to know they live in a community where others are not as blessed as they are this time of year. Our boys and girls work so hard on the ice and are amazing young kids. We wanted to help them see their potential off the ice as well. We hope they see that as one person you can do something little but as a whole team you can achieve so much more. This is a lesson they are taught on the ice as well,” said Heaberlin.

“It’s good to help other people. It makes them happy, and makes me feel good,” said 9½-year-old John Wiese.

JESI YOST — FOR MEDIANEWS GROUP Pottstown Penguins Ice Hockey players, their parents and siblings pitch in to wrap over 100 gifts for three adopted families.

JESI YOST — FOR MEDIANEWS GROUP Ten-year-olds Colin Costello and Andrew Jani wrap a gift.

JESI YOST — FOR MEDIANEWS GROUP The Pottstown Penguins, with about 45 players ages 4-11, along with their parents and siblings, adopted 3 local families through The Salvation Army. The group purchased, donated and wrapped over 100 gifts for those in need.

JESI YOST — FOR MEDIANEWS GROUP Candis Weise helps Pottstown Penguins wrap gifts.

JESI YOST — FOR MEDIANEWS GROUP Andrew Jani, 10 and Gretchen Radwillas team up to wrap a gift.

JESI YOST — FOR MEDIANEWS GROUP Jason Ochranek and 7½-year-old Addison Heaberlin wrap a gift at the Pottstown Penguin’s first Adopt-A-Family wrapping event.

JESI YOST — FOR MEDIANEWS GROUP Jakeob White, 10, and Parker Radswillas, 9, wrap a gift.

JESI YOST — FOR MEDIANEWS GROUP Even the youngest of the Pottstown Penguins family chip in to help wrap gifts. Pictured are Candis Weise and 1½-year-old Steven Wiese.

JESI YOST — FOR MEDIANEWS GROUP Pottstown Penguins Ice Hockey players, their parents and siblings pitch in to wrap over 100 gifts for three adopted families.