NCHC Gives Back

With Thanksgiving past and the holiday season upon us, we continue to highlight the “giving back” spirit of our hockey clubs. This month we are highlighting the Nutley Clifton Hockey Club (NCHC), Horsepirates. In August, NCHC organized a backpack drive to collect school supplies for kids in need. The Bantam players took charge of the initiative, reaching out to gather donations. They assembled the backpacks and personally delivered them to the children who needed them. President Matthew Berliner explained that giving back to the community is a tradition for NCHC players. He emphasized that coaches and club volunteers make sure to communicate the importance of supporting the community to both the players and their families instilling the “giving back” culture throughout the hockey club. The backpack drive was a new event this year and with its great success, they plan to make it an annual event for the Bantam players.

In keeping with the tradition of supporting the community, NCHC also organizes an annual club-wide food drive, encouraging players of all ages to get involved. This annual event provides a valuable lesson to the players, highlighting that food insecurity affects all communities and that their contribution as a hockey club can make a significant difference for those in need. Players are encouraged to reach out to their network of family, friends, neighbors, and others for donations, which are then collected at practices or games. NCHC also designates specific games as "collection games," informing the visiting team about the food drive and giving them the opportunity to contribute. Many visiting teams have chosen to participate, and NCHC is extremely grateful for their support. Just last week, NCHC successfully delivered their food collection, totaling 750 lbs of donations—a major success! The food drive is in partnership with Toni’s Kitchen in Montclair, New Jersey which has “one simple vision: reliable access to healthy foods for all.” It is amazing to see the spirit of giving back to the community infused into hockey culture. Keep up the great work Nutley Clifton Hockey Club!