Steel City Sports partners with Giving Hearts to support local food banks

NEWS RELEASE
STEEL CITY SPORTS
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Steel City Sports has partnered with Giving Hearts to collect non-perishable items as well as to support our local food banks and shelters.

“Investing on our community and ‘paying it forward’ are character attributes that we as a sports organization attempt to instil in our young student-athletes,” stated Jeff Giovanatti, one of the directors for Steel City Sports.

Steel City Sports includes both the Steel City Ignite Volleyball club, as well as the Steel City Slam basketball club.

Currently, these local sports clubs have been training from September until December in cohorts of a maximum of 20 participants.

Traditionally the clubs would have teams that compete throughout the province, and even in the United States. COVID-19 has prohibited that from happening.

"We felt as an organization that we had to connect with local health officials as well as our provincial sports organizations to offer programming in a fun yet safe environment; especially in terms of minimizing the risk of COVID-19. I think Algoma Public Health have done a tremendous job to educate us and our community has done a great job to follow the guidelines and recommendations. We see it in our programming, as the kids in our programs have adjusted to the ‘new norms’ and expectations, which include self assessing with a parent or guardian before attending a session, having their temperature checked upon entry, as well as hand sanitizing and wearing masks while in public areas.

"Being able to be active has provided an outlet for our youth to have fun, improve their fitness level as well as develop their skills in the sports they love. As data suggests an increase in mental health concerns due to the ongoing pandemic, we as a sports organization felt that it was necessary to be able to provide programming to impact our youth’s emotional, psychological and social well-being in a positive way. On behalf of the organization, we can’t thank all of our coaches enough for the additional time and effort they have taken to enhance the safety of our sports bubbles.

"And now as the holiday season fast approaches, rather than being critical of ‘what we don’t have’ or can’t do (tournaments, games etc.), our coaches and players felt the obligation to be grateful for what we do have, and to instead shift our thinking to help others who may be less fortunate than us at this time.

"Partnering with ‘Giving Hearts’ was an easy fit as our mission values are the same ‘serving the community of Sault Ste. Marie’. It’s a great opportunity for the kids in our club (aged 6-19 years of age) to help support others in the community."

If you are currently participating in any Steel City Sports programming, this is a friendly reminder to bring your non-perishable items to your next session.

Anyone who is interested in helping to support this campaign can do so by e-mailing saultsteelcitysports@gmail.com. Contactless delivery/drop offs can be arranged.

The collection will begin Thursday, Dec. 3, and run until Thursday, Dec. 17 inclusive.

If you are interested in having your child participate in programming offered by Steel City Sports in January, please e-mail saultsteelcitysports@gmail.com. More information will be coming in the near future for January registration. You can also find us online or like us on Facebook.

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