Chicago Wolves fans blanket people without addresses with warmth and love
Before last Saturday’s Chicago Wolves game against Iowa Wild, they were after a goal long before they ever hit the ice. For the third year, the hockey team partnered with The Salvation Army on their annual Faith and Fellowship Night where the mission was to rally fans to make blankets that would keep our neighbors without addresses warm and protected during Chicago’s cold winter nights.
Volunteers of all ages, made up of community groups, friends, and families, joined the pre-game effort, which produced 65 blankets that will be delivered immediately to encampments and shelters by The Salvation Army’s Feeding and Mobile Outreach Unit.
Annette De Angelis is a Faith and Fellowship Night volunteer who has supported The Salvation Army’s mission through additional volunteer opportunities such as Red Kettle bell ringing. “We understand that Chicago winters are unbearable. What a great blessing it would be to offer a person who does not have shelter a warm symbol of the love of his fellow human beings,” said De Angelis.
De Angelis also saw the project as an opportunity to bond through service by bringing eight friends and family members. “The Salvation Army is a gleam of hope to so many,” said De Angelis. “For us, this project took less than an hour of our time. However, we bonded over the cutting and tying of the blanket. We laughed and shared memories, joked about our 'knitting' skills, remembered the good times...this project is important because good vibes and blessing are shared in those blankets.”
De Angelis’ blanket work will continue after the event. She left with enough supplies for ten additional blankets, which will be made by the Christian Service Association, a club she chairs at Hinsdale Central High School.
The Salvation Army Mobile Outreach Unit will deliver volunteer-made blankets at their 29 stops throughout the City of Chicago, where they provide 800 meals each day.
“Individuals we serve, especially at encampments, tend to need warm, dry blankets to keep themselves comfortable while being shielded from the elements,” said Andrew Ward with the Mobile Outreach Unit. “Everyone is very thankful and appreciative to receive the blankets. Some recognize that these blankets come around the same time of the year, so they may even ask if we have them this time of year.”
When the night was said and done, the Wolves could feel good about the victories and impact the team had both on and off the ice.