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.