For the fifth year, Coach4Food will run during the month of December, 2009, in an effort to re-stock the shelves of the North Bay Food Bank.
For the fifth year, Coach4Food will run during the month of December, 2009, in an effort to re-stock the shelves of the North Bay Food Bank. Last year, Coach4Food was dedicated to the memory of Coach4food's founder Tom Hedican's late mother Shirley, and hit a record-setting 60,000 pounds of food for food banks in North Bay and Powassan.
"During these very difficult economic times, it is even more important that we make sure our brothers and sisters in North Bay have food on their tables," said Hedican in a press release.
"Myself, my father Ernie, and my wife Nancy Ann will do everything we can to fill the shelves of the North Bay Food Bank but we certainly count on the coaches, managers, parents and players of hockey teams in the area to collect the food for their practices. We also count on the sponsors who have been with Coach4Food for anywhere from one to five years, to continue their amazing generosity. We also rely heavily on the people of North Bay who donate food to teams involved."
Last year, teams did everything from food drives in their neighbourhoods to donating their allowances in cash (every dollar is equal to 1.5 pounds of food).
"I have been asked many times how we will beat 60,000 pounds and, quite honestly, I am not sure that we can," admitted Hedican.
"I do know that North Bay is without question the most generous and giving community in the country. So, we will do our best and see where we end up."
Coach4Food, whereby teams are put through a practice of professional European and NHL skill drills on their own ice time, in exchange for non-perishable food items for the food bank (money is also accepted on behalf of the food bank), has collected more than 100,000 pounds of food in it's first four years of existence. That amount includes 17,000 pounds collected last year in New Jersey where the New Jersey Devils participated in the program.
Teams wishing to participate or businesses or individuals who wish to sponsor a practice can contact Tom at
[email protected].
Businesses which sponsor practices will be recognized on both CKAT and The FOX radio,
www.Baytoday.ca and the North Bay Nugget as we run daily updates on the teams participating, how much food they bring to their designated practice and who their sponsors are.
Coach4Food was inspired by rock star Bruce Springsteen's work with food banks in the United States and Canada, with the Boss himself endorsing Coach4Food just over one year ago in a personal meeting with Tom and his wife Nancy Ann, before a sold-out concert at Giants Stadium in New Jersey.
