Olympic medalists give back

We know Christmas is a time for giving. And for a pair of local Olympians, it’s a time for giving back as well. That’s why they were on hand to help deliver some good news to Hamilton’s Mission Services Friday morning.

Olympians Mark Oldershaw and Becky Kellar-Duke stack donation tables at Mission Services Hamilton. The pair were there to support Olympic sponsor RBC which was donating thirty thousand dollars towards helping those in need.

Becky Kellar-Duke: “So many of us have been so fortunate and we forget, at times that there are people struggling more than us. To come down here, it kinda really sheds light on how people are living, in a community that’s really close to us.”

Oldershaw, a sprint canoeist, won an Olympic bronze medal at last years London Olympics. While Kellar-Duke was a triple Gold medallist as a member of our women’s hockey team. The Burlington natives say giving back is important to them.

Mark Oldershaw: “I just love giving back to my community because my community has given so much to me. They supported me not only as a person but as an athlete. But to give back to people that, especially this time of year.”

There are two parts to Mission Services, the nutritional side helps eight hundred families every month. And the clothing and toy side help five hundred local families.

Victor Cyr of Mission Services: “We started this donation centre program just one year ago, and in that time we’ve given out fifty thousand articles to families in need.”

The staff at Mission Services say the large donation from RBC will go a long way in serving the Hamilton community. Their goal this holiday season is to ensure no child wakes up without a present under the tree.

Mission Services gets its goods from many sources. Corporate companies, nursing homes and private donors. If you’d like to help out, here are the things they really need this holiday season:

1. New or gently used winter jackets – especially for children.

2. Toys for children and babies.

3. Canned goods & non-perishable foods.

And of course cash donations are always needed and appreciated.