Share time...and hockey
April 19, 2004
By Cam Tait
Hey! What are you doing tonight?
There are two hockey games on television and they both have those magic
words: Game 7. One, is an original-six rivalry between Boston and Montreal,
the other has Calgary and Vancouver going at it. Both games will be
on televisions in hospitals and extended care centres. Patients and
residents will gather with their IV bottles, wheelchairs, and walkers
for a good view of the game.
For some of them, the long walk towards the television room is something
they've been looking forward to all day. Some of them haul their visitors
down to the television room with them to watch the game. Sadly, the
reality is that many hospital patients and nursing home residents don't
get enough visitors.
This type of event is tailor-made for hockey fans. Playoffs, especially
Game 7, can have more storylines than any daytime soap opera. It's fun
to share time together and listen to different opinions. And a little
friendly rivalry in the TV room can be entertaining and fun.
What's that I hear through my Internet connection? You don't like hockey? That's cool...I can understand. But if you enjoy baking or like making snack foods, here's a great opportunity for you to take some of your goodies to patients or residents.
If cooking really isn't your thing, maybe there's an artistic side to you. What about making a few pom-poms or flags? You could find something in your home that brings you good luck and then take it to the hospitals and let the hockey fans use it to cheer their team on. Goofy? Sure, it is. But it's also fun.
What if you went on each web site - Canadiens, Bruins, Flames, and Canucks
- and printed off the line-up for each team and distributed them to
people watching the games? Or, organize a little pool - two bits each
- and have people pick the winning team and total number of goals scored
for that game.
Monday is the second day of National Volunteer Week. Become a part of the team and help someone on to victory in a game that doesn't involve a stick or puck.
Do you know of someone who deserves to be in Charity Village's Spotlight?
Send us their name, telephone number and details about their community involvement
to cam@charityvillage.com.
