By Thomas Perry, The Daily Press (Timmins)
TIMMINS – Hockey fans will have an opportunity to see Round 10 of the NOJHL regular-season battle between the Cochrane Crunch and the Timmins Rock Wednesday night at the McIntyre Arena and help out a worthy cause in the process.
The Rock and game-sponsor McDougall Energy are partnering to collect donations on behalf of the Yo! Mobile during the contest scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m.
Yo! Mobile vice president Yves Guillemette is happy to see Timmins NOJHL franchise lend a helping hand.
“It’s great,” he said. “They are really showing community spirit and it will really help us out.
“We are hoping to get the stuff that we give out on the bus. We have the Hollinger House Bakery that does our sandwiches. Donations there would be great. Gift cards for groceries, or gas cards, hot chocolate, coffee, teas, Cups of Soup, Mr. Noodles, things like that would be great.
“We also give out coats, boots, mittens, toques, all kinds of winter gear.”
Kealey Cummings, one of the Rock assistant captains, realizes how important it is for the hockey club to become involved in the community.
“I feel strongly it is the right thing to do and I am proud we are doing it,” he said.
“The Yo! Mobile seems to be doing a fantastic job and I am glad we can help support them.
“Hopefully, we will have a big crowd out for Wednesday’s game, because the more fans who come out the more people we have who can help the Yo! Mobile.”
Guillemette noted the Yo! Mobile has been meeting the needs of Timmins residents for the past five years.
“We run every Friday and Saturday, from 7 p.m. until midnight,” he said.
“We use to travel around a little bit, but now we are stationary at City Hall.”
Demands for the services provided by the Yo! Mobile are higher than ever.
“Sometimes, we are getting up to 120 to 140 people a night,” Guillemette said.
“We have people coming to us just wearing little running shoes and sweatshirts who have not eaten in a couple of days.
“They have a lot of services available to them during the week, but it is the weekends when there doesn’t seem to be much out there for them.”
The Timmins Rock is just the latest in a long line of community-minded groups that have recognized the important service the Yo! Mobile provides.
“Timmins Building Supply has been a great supporter of our organization and we have had groups like the Rotary Club and (École secondaire catholique) Thériault supporting us, as well,” Guillemette said.
“Thériault has a lot of students coming out and doing their volunteer hours. This year has really been a great year. The public has really embraced the Yo! Mobile. Our Facebook group has also helped raise a lot of awareness.
“We are very, very grateful.”
