Despite the busyness of the hockey season, the Under-10 ‘A’ Markham Islanders took the time to give back to three community initiatives. Between November 23 and December 1, the team engaged with the Toronto Transit Commission’s (TTC) Stuff the Bus event, the Toronto Police Community Program, and the Salvation Army Shelter in Barrie.

As part of the TTC’s Stuff the Bus efforts, each member of the team donated a new toy for children in need. For the Toronto Police Community Program, the team made a monetary donation to help families in the community. As part of the Salvation Army contribution, the Islanders donated food on their way to a tournament. 

“These are events I have participated in before,” Lee-Anne Guerin, the Head Coach of the Islanders, shared. “[I] thought it would provide our players with the opportunity to give back to a wide variety of services and communities in need; showing our kids there are many ways to help.”

The TTC’s Stuff the Bus event is an annual employee-driven toy and gift drive campaign to help children and families in need. TTC volunteers collect donated toys and gifts to fill TTC buses parked outside retail locations across the city. All donations are distributed to charities supporting children and families, including SickKids, Abuse Hurts, BDC Dovercourt Club, Community Place Hub, Parkdale Peace Project, the Salvation Army, among many others. For more information, click here. 

The Salvation Army is the largest non-governmental direct provider of social services in Canada, supporting society’s most vulnerable. To learn more about the Salvation Army, click here. 

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