Hockey players for the University of Maine joined Holden police to hand out food at an apartment building Monday morning.
The 25 boxes of food and $25 Hannaford gift cards were given to residents as part of Holden’s annual 25 Days of Kindness. Members of the UMaine men’s and women’s hockey teams joined this year, as a way to give back to their community.
“I did it for the community,” sophomore defenseman Simon Motew said. “Maine fans — what they do for us — it’s the least we can do to give back.”
Motew and junior left wing Anthony Calafiore gave a box of food to Merle “Cookie” Brown, who has lived at Holden Square apartments for 12 years.
“It’s great to know someone is caring for us,” Brown said.
She said she loves watching sports and wished the players good luck for the rest of their season.
Junior forward Lily Fetch was one of three women’s players to volunteer because she likes to help others.
“It’s awesome,” Fetch said. “It feels really good to be a part of this.”
Senior forward Danielle Brunette and freshman forward Mackenzie Podewell also volunteered, carrying boxes of food to residents.
The police department spends the first 25 days of December financially helping out community members. The tradition was started about nine years ago by now-deceased Chief Chris Greeley.
The police department also held a food drive with the teams at the Alfond Sports Arena. A “jail and bail” fundraiser is scheduled for Dec. 17, where the department will “arrest” Holden business owners for people to “bail out” with the money going to the 25 Days of Kindness.