The New Hamburg Firebirds host annual Thanksgiving Food Drive

By Amanda Nelson

It’s that time of year again. The New Hamburg Firebirds will once again host the annual Thanksgiving Food Drive.

The official launch is Thursday Sept. 24, at the Wilmot and Wellesley Resource Centre’s Poor Boy Luncheon, which will run from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and then from 5-7 p.m.

The Thanksgiving Food Drive Meet the Players event will be at both Sobeys and Mackay’s No Frills on Saturday, Oct. 3, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and it’s an opportunity for everyone to come out, meet their favourite players, take pictures and drop off donations.

The main event, the Firebirds Thanksgiving Friday Night Game, will be on Friday, Oct. 9, at 7 p.m. Advanced tickets aren’t required, and everyone is encouraged to bring canned goods and monetary donations to The Nest upon entry.

“It’s become a real community-oriented initiative,” said Morgan Miller, volunteer. “We sell out the game; they have to stop selling tickets because it’s always a full house. It truly brings the community together.”

Since its inception, the New Hamburg Firebirds Thanksgiving Game Night, along with the participation of students and their schools, has collected 59,726 pounds of non-perishable food for the shelves of the Wilmot and Wellesley Resource Centre.

“The New Hamburg Firebirds Thanksgiving Food Drive’s huge success is only possible because of the phenomenal help from a community that continues to give,” said Miller.

Last year, through the Poor Boy Luncheon, the “Meet the Players” event at both Mackay’s and Sobeys grocery stores, the “Shopping Cart Challenge” from the participating schools and the night of the game, 12,337 pounds of food, as well as over $2,000 in monetary donations, were collected.

“Wilmot has a well-deserved reputation for its welcoming attitude and kindness,” said Miller. “While we don’t know what changes and challenges lie in the future, we do know that we are resilient, and we can adapt to whatever comes next and continue to learn from the past.”

“One of the things that makes Wilmot such a great place to live is the way residents come together to assist and support each other if the need presents itself. I see this evidence in every part of the community, especially this time of year.”

The New Hamburg Firebirds always strive to give back to the community and rally support for the Wilmot and Wellesley Resource Centre to help more community members have a good Thanksgiving.

For more information, please visit the New Hamburg Firebirds website or call Miller at 519-662-2200.