Many local families grateful for program

By Miller Reynolds

Connie Reid remembers the tears of relief from a Belleville mother after helping enroll her son in a ball hockey league.

“She was trying to talk her son out of playing ball hockey, it was 40 bucks. So when I told her that we agreed to pay for the ball hockey, she literally was crying on the phone she was so thankful,” she said.

Reid is the executive director of the Quinte Children’s Foundation.

The foundation has been partnering with Canadian Tire Jump Start Charities to provide the Playing for Keeps program which helps families pay for sports registration fees like soccer, basketball, hockey, and ball hockey.

“There’s a prime example of a family that is really down on their luck, so it’s great to be able to help them,” she said.

Recipients must be between the ages 4-18 years, and must live in Hastings County.

Shelby Cameron, a member of the support and supply staff at Kawartha Child Care Services, said there were about 50 young boys and girls at their centre aged four-to-five who were interested in playing hockey.

Only about 13 out of these children were able to register for the hockey season, due to the overwhelming price of hockey equipment and registration fees, said Cameron.

“It’s just really a shame, because there was so many of them that had this common interest, and now it’s so few of them because they didn’t get the chance to play,” she said.

Cameron said giving children the opportunity to be a part of activities and sports can be beneficial in various ways.

“Long term, you’re going to see less kids on the street, you’re going to see fewer kids with nothing to do after school,” she said.

“Short term, it gives them goals, it teaches them teamwork, a lot of basic and fundamental aspects that are going to benefit you throughout your entire life.”

In order to be considered for financial aid, families can apply on www.quintechildrensfoundation.com or can call the foundation at 613-962-9292.

There is a short list of requirements for applicants.