A group of young hockey players from Kingsville and Harrow are lending a hand to a local non-profit organization this holiday season by collecting food items and toiletries for those in need.

Giving back to their community is not new to this group. Each year, the Erie North Shore Minor Hockey Under 11 Travel Team selects an organization in need and they start their work. Last year, they focused their charitable efforts on supplying similar items to The Bridge Leamington Youth Resource Centre in Leamington.

This year, their food drive will support Project Hope Windsor Essex which will distribute the donated items to those in need in the Windsor-Essex area. Project Hope operates a food pantry at the Harrow and Colchester South Arena where the team practices once a week.

These boys have asked their families, friends and community members to drop off needed items at their homes before November 13. At that time, the boys and their families will deliver the donations to the Harrow Arena following their game.

Members of the public are free to drop off donations at any time to the Project Hope food pantry or visit the Project Hope Facebook page where donations can be made in honour of the ENS U11 hockey team.

The team has a special message for readers.  They are hoping that their actions will create a spark and ignite a desire in others to give back in their own way.

To find out more about Project Hope click here.

To find out more about The Bridge Youth Centre in Leamington click here.

Photos provided by Jacquelyn Ciliska