Donations were pilled high on Saturday night after the U15 AAA Lloydminster Roswell Bobcats collected donations for Residents in Recovery. Taylor Weaver Meridian Source
The U15 AAA Lloydminster Roswell Bobcats had a busy weekend with back-to-back home games at the Centennial Civic Centre, but the team’s off-ice work made a local non-profit the real winner.
The team partnered with the Residents in Recovery Society to help fill their shelves with household items the organization needs to help offset the cost of operating sober living facilities.
“They offered to do a fundraiser for us and reached out to ask what kind of donations we were looking for,” said the organization’s executive director, Tyler Lorenz. “We gave them a list, and a couple different teams today have been promoting the fundraiser for those coming to the game.
“The opponents also brought in donations, and the local boys did some shopping to make sure we had everything we needed.”
According to the organization’s website, Residents in Recovery champions the cause of individuals marginalized by mental health and addiction issues, by providing judgement-free access to a safe, supportive and therapeutic recovery environment.
Residents in Recovery first opened its doors in downtown Lloydminster on Sept. 4, 2018, and its first sober-living home opened three days later. Since then, the organization has grown and offers single and family sober living options.
“These items will get used in all of our homes,” said Lorenz.
“We go through so many sheet sets, pillows and blankets with clients that come through our programs. When they transition out they also take what they used while they were with us, so we always have a need to replace items. It’s a big cost for us to buy that stuff with every family that comes through, and every bit helps.”
Currently, Residents in Recovery has 23 spots for individuals, nine families, and eight families in its healing centre.
“The need is huge, and we can’t thank these guys enough for the work they put in.”
Lorenz was also shocked when he saw the mountain of donations brought in on Saturday.
“I walked in and couldn’t believe how much stuff had been donated. I had no idea it was going to be anything like this. This is unreal and will last us a few months, for sure.”
The team’s captain, Wainwright native Denton Setzer, was also blown away by the success of the fundraising campaign as it was much larger than expected.
“I thought it was great,” he said. “The number of people that wanted to support this cause and help us with donations was amazing. Even the team we were against brought some stuff to donate and help us out; I thought it was great.”
Setzer also noted the importance of local hockey teams being active members of the community.
“I think it’s important to stay connected with your community and to not just be ‘some hockey player.’ It’s important to also be good humans and always help people when they need it, and just be good citizens.”
Jen Romanchuk, mother of defenseman Rhett Romanchuk, helped organize the funder and was wowed by the community’s generosity.
“They went to U BET YAH and all the items they picked out there were donated, then they went to the dollar store and the lady in front of them paid for their stuff, so they got to go get more,” she said.
“The KC Squires, who we’re playing today, brought a bunch of stuff for donation as well as a cash donation.
“The community is so good about supporting local sports and teams, we just wanted to give back in a way, and it was important for these boys to give back.”
