A holiday tradition for the Clarkston Wolves Hockey is loading trucks with all the toys gathered during Tree of Dreams.
This year was no different as they loaded the toys to deliver to Neighbor for Neighbor and Lighthouse of Clarkston.
“The boys carried more toys than they ever have,” said Wendy Schaffer, one of the sponsors for the event.
Tree of Dreams was started 12 years ago by Jim and Lisa Lucas.
“It started out as guests who came to a holiday party would bring gifts for Toys for Tots,” Schaffer explained. “It has transformed into a big event that goes on every year at Deer Lake Athletic Club.?
The toys as well as gift cards and monetary donations now go to local charities for children in the area. This year they had over $40,000 with cash donations, gift cards, toys and money raised from the raffle.
Schaffer added the event has a community feel, not only with the hockey team helping but local restaurants and stores donated gift cards for their raffles.
“Thanks to the community and their support,” she said. “Everyone is involved, and it is really fun on top of it.”
The first year Schaffer and her husband helped with the event their son, Cole, was on the hockey team.
“We thought it would be fun some big strong boys come in, take out the toys we all brought, load them on the trucks and take to the organizations,” she said. “It has been a fun thing for everyone to see and for the hockey team to be involved. It is a highlight of our evening to see all the boys come in in their letter jackets and supporting an event like that especially on a Friday night.”
For more information about the event, visit www.treeofdreams.us or Tree of Dreams on Facebook.
For more information on the organizations, please call Lighthouse 248-620-6116 or Neighbor for Neighbor at 248-634-0900.
~Wendi Reardon