Coach Jeff Ford was looking for a way to teach his players a good, non-hockey lesson.
The head coach of the Peewee A Pownal Devils saw a story in The Guardian that seemed to fit the bill.
The article was on Ashley Feschuk of Charlottetown coming up with a campaign to get people to write nice Christmas memories in cards to be delivered to seniors at Andrews of Charlottetown and Andrews of Stratford.
“It’s just nice,’’ Ford says of the gesture.
“The big thing for us (coaching staff) is we were looking for something to do with the boys to teach them a life lesson. We want them to take away something more from the hockey season than just hockey.’’
Ford says taking part in the Christmas card campaign will give his 14 hockey players the opportunity to brighten the spirit of others, which should prove a good learning process for them.
The whole team will join Feschuk in delivering the cards.
“That will be kind of cool for some of the seniors to get a visit from the kids,’’ says Ford.
Feschuk has been overwhelmed by the interest shown in her inaugural card campaign.
People have been popping in to her workplace – The Holman Grand Hotel – to pick up Christmas cards that Feschuk is providing for free.
A teacher snapped up 50 cards.
Students in several programs at Holland College have been encouraged to participate.
One woman wrote an eight-page letter about a happy Christmas memory to include with a card that will soon be opened by a senior.
“It’s been really amazing,’’ says Feschuk.
“I’m excited that I can support my community…I got a real sense of the Charlottetown community doing this project – and that people really do care about each other.’’
Feschuk initially hoped to get 150 cards – a target she once felt was a bit ambitious. However, she expects to well surpass that total, perhaps allowing her to be able to give more than one card to each of the residents at Andrews of Charlottetown and Andrews of Stratford.
People can still support the project this year by picking up a free Christmas card from front desk of The Holman Grand Hotel, buying one or making one.
Inside the card, write “To Andrew’s Resident’’, then write a happy memory of the holiday season and sign the card Santa’s Helper, Secret Holiday Angel or some similarly pleasant moniker. Put the card in an unsealed envelope, decorate it if you like and drop it off at the front desk of The Holman Grand Hotel by Dec. 15.
Feschuk plans to fire up the campaign again next year.
