One of the Carolina Hurricanes’ biggest stars spent the day helping thousands of kids skate into a new school year.
On Saturday, the ‘Canes defenseman Jaccob Slavin joined thousands of kids and their families outside Raleigh’s New Hope Baptist Church for a good cause.
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“This event itself is special just because it’s serving the community,” Slavin said.
Thousands of kids getting a leg up on the new school year with items like rulers, notebooks, and a pencil case.
Slavin partnered with the Christian non-profit the Raleigh Dream Center for the event, handing out backpacks stuffed to the brim with everything these kids need for a new school year.
“You know for us we see the value where kids feel a sense of joy when they get that backpack,” said Raleigh Dream Center Co-founder Jeremy Porras. “You know, not everybody goes to school with new clothes, new backpack, and sometimes people feel like they're a step behind their friends or their other students in school.”
And there were more than backpacks at this back-to-school bash.
The Dream Center and Slavin supplied a mini carnival, complete with rides, face painting and more.
“To see the true joy that they have just from getting a little school supply is amazing,” Slavin said. “But again, it's the joy of the Lord is what we hope they have at the end of the day.”
In total, Slavin and the Dream Center supplied 3,000 backpacks to these families.
The Raleigh Dream Center was founded back in 2014, and their work goes well beyond backpack giveaways.
The organization also provide everything from addiction recovery programs to human trafficking safe houses.