Wooster Oilers team up with Red Cross to help community
The Orrville holiday drive is not the only charity in which the Oilers participate. They also help with the American Red Cross Festival of Trees and other community efforts in Wooster such as the Wayne County Community Foundation.
For several years the Wooster Oilers hockey team has helped the Orrville Salvation Army distribute holiday food baskets to the less fortunate in Orrville. That tradition will continue this year as the annual holiday community project will take place Dec. 21 at Portico Plaza, 1330 N. Main St., Orrville.
“We really appreciate the Oilers being here,” said Sarah Eckert, executive director of the Orrville Salvation Army. “They carry the heavy boxes of food to the cars and interact in such a positive way with the recipients.”
Eckert’s nephew and brother-in-law played hockey with the Oilers and together with Eckert came up with the idea of the Oilers helping with the community drive several years ago.
“The Oilers are just such a great part of this,” Eckert said. “They come and do this on the day after their Showcase event, just exhausted off of their games and a 13-hour bus ride. Many of these players aren’t even from Ohio, but they are still willing to give. They have giving hearts, great attitudes and they are very respectful.”
Bobby Frieson of Euclid, a second-year player and one of the team’s captains, said the team is happy to help wherever it can. “We’re tired, but it makes it all worth it when you see the look on someone’s face,” he said.
Last year about half the team participated, and this year the whole team is expected to join the effort, according to Frieson.
“It’s especially rewarding to see the looks on the kids’ faces when they receive a gift,” Frieson said.
Frieson explained that this is not the only cause the Oilers support. “This year we’ve done events for the American Red Cross, People to People and one at the Wooster Inn,” Frieson said.
That spirit of community is what characterizes the Orrville event. Eckert said that on distribution day there are more than 1,200 gifts given and 250 boxes of food distributed. She describes the drive as a total community effort.
According to Eckert, several entities contribute in myriad of ways. For example Orrville High School has a canned food drive that collected 7,000 cans. She said the Angel Tree Project will provide nearly 357 children with three gifts each.
Corporate entities involved include Jarrett Logistics, P. Graham Dunn, Orrville Lions Club, Wayne College, the Orrville Police Department, Orrville City Hall, 3-D Meats, Smith Dairy and the public library, according to Eckert.
“I hope I’m not leaving anyone out, but I’m sure I am,” Eckert said.
The Orrville holiday drive is not the only charity in which the Oilers participate. They also help with the American Red Cross Festival of Trees and other community efforts in Wooster such as the Wayne County Community Foundation, according to Deb Conrad, an Oilers team spokesperson.
“These are young kids, ages 16-20, who are trying to further their dream of playing at a higher level of hockey or college,” Conrad said.
But they’re not too busy with their own dreams to keep from helping others with theirs.
Please note that recipients must have already signed up to receive meals.