Skates for Kids launches in Falls

Program working with Simcoe Street Public School By Brad Peters Niagara Falls Review Posted 12 hours ago

For its first foray into Niagara Falls, the Skates for Kids program brought out the big guns Thursday.

Students from Simcoe Street Public Street, one of the beneficiary schools this year, were thrilled to meet a couple of hockey celebrities – Buffalo Sabre Brad Boyes and Bones, the IceDogs mascot.

"The way I grew up, we were always playing hockey and there were always a couple of pairs of skates in the basement," said Boyes, the honorary chairman of the program. "Hockey and skating were a passion that we played every chance we got.

"Knowing that there are kids out there that don't have that same opportunity, well, it was a no-brainer to get involved and help out."

The Skates for Kids initiative was launched three years ago by PenFinancial Credit Union, and it arose out of another community project undertaken by the credit union.

"We booked ice for a school in Welland for them to come out and skate," said Pam Isaak, PenFinancial's communications specialist during the launch at the Gale Centre. "But when we got there, we noticed that the majority of the kids weren't able to get on the ice, because they didn't have skates.

"We learned that many of their families couldn't afford to buy skates for the children."

And with that observations, Skates for Kids was born.

The program accepts gently-used skate donations, cleans up the skates, sharpens the blades and gives the skates to needy schools.

This is the first year that the program has expanded to Niagara Falls after two successful years in Welland and St. Catharines. The goal for the program is to collect 750 pairs of skates to be divided among schools in the three cities.

Simcoe Street teacher Lorna Lane was delighted to learn that her school was chosen as a recipient of the program.

"I was given an application form at school," she said. "I'm involved in social causes, so someone made sure it ended up on my desk. I filled it out, explained the situation here at Simcoe Street and was happy to learn that our school gets the skates.

"We have a fantastic group of students and parents, however the reality is most simply cannot afford to go skating. The Skates for Kids program will allow us to provide a new and exciting opportunity for our students."

The drop-off program kicked off Thursday and runs until Sept. 12. Interested donors can drop off skates at the Niagara Falls Review office (4801 Valley Way), Power Play Sports (4129 Stanley Ave. Unit 6A), and two PenFinancial Credit Union branches (7172 Dorchester Rd. and 6289 Huggins St).

Everyone making donations to the program will receive an entry into draws for a Brad Boyes autographed jersey and tickets to regular season IceDogs games.

For more information on the program, go to www.penfinancial.com .

Source: http://www.niagarafallsreview.ca