Eamon Stocks may only be seven years old but he carries a heavy load on his back — the weight of three hockey bags to be exact.
The Grade 2 student at John Dryden Public School in Whitby recently took on a mighty goal of collecting sports equipment to send over to Canadian troops in Afghanistan.
The endeavour was part of a school project called Who is Nobody, designed to allow students the opportunity to help others in their community through creative initiatives.
When I got the original e-mail, I was shocked that a little guy would even be thinking about something like thisβ Bill Sidsworth, director of WISCβI was doing my project and it was close to Remembrance Day so I decided to help the soldiers,β he said, adding his uncle had recently returned from serving overseas.
βWe asked him what do they need and he told us sports equipment for when theyβre not working.β
Eamon kicked off the initiative by contacting sports clubs from across the region and requesting that donations be made toward the cause.
Several local groups including Durham Attack, the Durham Ultimate Club, the Whitby Minor Baseball Association, the Whitby Minor Lacrosse Association and the Whitby Iroquois Soccer Club (WISC) enthusiastically joined the effort.
βWhen I got the original e-mail, I was shocked that a little guy would even be thinking about something like this,β said Bill Sidsworth, executive director of WISC that donated soccer balls.
βIt took me about two seconds to phone them and say anything you want, Iβll give you . . . itβs great because it reminds (the soldiers) that everybody back home is thinking about them.β
We were both absolutely amazed at the generosity of the community. Everyone jumped on board without hesitation and Eamon has learned that we live in a wonderful, caring, helpful communityβ Sherri Stocks, motherThe giant bags were stuffed with volleyballs, baseballs, footballs, frisbees and other sports equipment that Canada Post recently shipped over free of charge.
The project allowed Eamon to understand how far one can go if they truly have a deep desire to help out, his mother Sherri Stocks said.
βWe were both absolutely amazed at the generosity of the community. Everyone jumped on board without hesitation and Eamon has learned that we live in a wonderful, caring, helpful community.β
This article was published in the Durham Regional News on January 5th 2009
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