Caps Cares Org Works At Area Food Bank

Peter Bondra, Brooke, and Joe Beninati cheesin' (Photo courtesy of @CapsBN92)
Peter Bondra, Brooke, and Joe Beninati cheesin' (Photo courtesy of @CapsBN92)

Even though there isn't any hockey to be seen on the horizon, Monumental Sports and Capitals fans are finding ways to give back to the community and help those in need. On Tuesday, November 20,  former Washington Capital Peter Bondra presented a $10,000 donation on behalf of Monumental Sports & Entertainment Foundation to the Capital Area Food Bank. Bondra was joined by the likes of CSN's Joe Beninati, Jill Sorensen, Capitals mascot Slapshot and the Red Rockers, and Mix 107.3’s Chilli Amar as well as a group of 50 fans who helped sort and pack donated food. Reader and fan Brooke Nelson attended this event and was kind enough to pen an account of her experience for us here at Hockeyshopped.  You can follow her on Twitter at @CapsBN92 . Thanks again, Brooke!

On Tuesday, I participated in the Caps Cares food sorting at the Capital Area Food Bank. I was able to volunteer with an amazing group of people including Peter and David Bondra, Joe Beninati, Slapshot, the Red Rockers, and of course other Caps fans. I had a ton of fun being able to spend the day around these people, while also being able to help out in my community. Especially around this time of year, when I have so many reasons to be thankful for what I have, it feels great to share that feeling with others who may not be as accustomed to having everything they need.

Slapshot handing out the goods

I loved how the group of us were all able to work together, at times squeezing past each other through the narrow passages between the sorting bins, and others when I would stand there holding a can of bread wondering where that even belongs (Slapshot helped me out with that one, apparently it's a baking product). It was great, as a fan, to be helping out others and being on the same level as someone as incredible as Peter Bondra (I mean, I wrote a paper in high school and talked about him). I'm so used to seeing these people on TV and on the jumbo-tron at the Verizon Center, it was awesome to actually spend the day with them.

I will admit, I had a twinge of sadness (and by twinge, I mean it slapped me in the face) when Joe B talked, I mean that man has the voice of a thousand angels. And I haven't heard it since there was a season. Thanks, Gary. I did manage to keep myself composed, even with a giant NHL-sized hole in my heart, to get a picture with Bondra and Joe B. Overall, the experience was amazing, I love feeling like I'm helping others while also having some fun myself. It also helps pass the time while I wait for hockey to start, so...now I'll just go back to playing Bejeweled and twiddling my thumbs.

According to the Capitals, the Capital Area Food Bank was able to distribute "33 million pounds of food, including 15 million pounds of fresh produce, to more than 478,000,000 people through a network of more than 700 nonprofit partners." That is insane and only goes to show you what volunteering can accomplish.

Capitals Press Release for this event

ARLINGTON, Va. – Washington Capitals alumnus Peter Bondra will visit the Capital Area Food Bank at its Washington, D.C., distribution center on Tuesday, Nov. 20 at 1 p.m. to present a $10,000 check to the food bank on behalf of the Monumental Sports & Entertainment Foundation as well as to help pack and sort donated food. Capitals mascot Slapshot and the Red Rockers, Comcast SportsNet’s Joe Beninati and Jill Sorenson and Mix 107.3’s Chilli Amar along with 50 Capitals volunteers also will participate in the event. The Capitals, Comcast SportsNet and Mix 107.3 are teaming up during November to host a canned food drive to aid in the struggle to end hunger in the Washington area. All donations benefit the Capital Area Food Bank.

The Monumental Sports & Entertainment Foundation supports the charitable efforts of the professional teams under its umbrella: the Washington Capitals, Mystics and Wizards. MSE is committed to the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area and focuses on the following five pillars to maximize its impact on the community: education and scholarship, hunger and homelessness, military and veterans’ affairs, pediatric health and fitness and youth basketball and hockey.

The Capital Area Food Bank is the largest public nonprofit food and nutrition education resource in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. Last year the Capital Area Food Bank distributed 33 million pounds of food, including 15 million pounds of fresh produce, to more than 478,000,000 people through a network of more than 700 nonprofit partners. The Capital Area Food Bank has served the National Capital region for 32 years.

Footage from last year's can food drive, starring Hadeed Carpet spokesperson, John Carlson.

From everyone here at Hockey Shopped, we wish you a Happy Thanksgiving!