Stoneham Youth Hockey team helps out a local family
Published on December 23rd, 1998
STONEHAM, MA - The lights, the decorations, the well wishes, the friendlier than usual faces - it is Christmas time, the season for spreading tidings of comfort, joy and good will.
How wonderful it is to see that this holiday spirit really does shine through people we live with and not just in pretty cards and our favorite Christmas carols.
For the second year in a row, Stoneham Youth Hockey's Squirt A team, a group of local 9, 10 and 11-year-olds, has demonstrated true Christmas spirit by adopting an area family in order to ensure that this family has a happy holiday in what has otherwise been a difficult year.
With donations from each player as well as from their parents, the youngsters have worked with the Community Service Network in town which has designated a family in need to be the recipient of the team's generosity.
According to Squirt A Head Coach Domenic Maitino, the concept of helping others during the holidays came up in general conversation last year. The kids took hold of the idea and committed themselves to doing their part in making a difference. Through their efforts last year, the players were able to provide one local family in need with Christmas dinner and gifts for the family's children.
"The kids took a real interest," said Maitino. "They wanted to go and pick out gifts... They put a lot of time and thought into it."
This year, the team was eager to adopt a family once again, and on Tuesday night, following weeks of planning, collecting, shopping and even gathering at one teammate's house to wrap presents and sign cards, the team presented the fruit of its hard work to Community Service Director Sheila Herbeck, who will see that this family benefits from the gift.
"The Community Service Network is very appreciative of the team's helping us help out a family in Stoneham... These children really exemplify the Christmas spirit," said Herbeck.
"I know this will get them (the adopted family) a pretty nice Christmas - whoever they are," said Maitino.
While the adopted family remains anonymous, Maitino explained that the Community Service group accepts on the family's behalf. Last year, Herbeck spoke to the youngsters regarding the real meaning of what they had accomplished.
"Last year, the kids felt really good about themselves," said Maitino, acknowledging that both the receivers and the givers benefit. Through committing themselves to the project and working together to accomplish it, the team learned a very important life lesson in giving.
"We've got some great kids in this town," Maitino said, and praised the parents as well for supporting their kids' efforts.
While the project was a team effort, Maitino, who is also the association's coaching director, stated that it reflects on Stoneham Youth Hockey in general.
"Hopefully, next year, we'll try to expand the project through the organization."
In addition to making one family's Christmas brighter, the group had another reason for getting involved.
"Whenever Stoneham Youth Hockey asked for the community's help, it responded very quickly and generously. We were looking for a way to give back," Maitino said.
The circle of life suggests that the givers of today may well be the receivers of tomorrow. It is, therefore, comforting to realize that Stoneham people can be relied on to help out when a need presents itself. The Stoneham Squirt A hockey team has received a gift this season that was likely not on any list - the gift of living out the true meaning of Christmas.
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