A longtime Penticton business is doing what it can to assist those grieving after the horrific bus crash in Saskatchewan last week and longtime employee Kerry Stuckel couldn’t be prouder.
Stuckel has worked at Sherwood Trophies and Sherwood Signs & Graphics in Penticton for the past 18 years, but she grew up near Humboldt, Sask., the same community that remains in a state of shock after numerous members of the Humboldt Broncos organization were killed in the horrific tragedy that claimed 15 lives, including several players, head coach Darcy Haugan, an assistant coach, the team’s radio broadcaster and statistician.
A total of 12 people remain in hospital, including several players and a team therapist.
On Thursday, which is National Jersey Day, Sherwood Trophies and Sherwood Signs & Graphics will be printing T-shirts which will be emblazoned with the logo “Broncos Strong”, with all proceeds going to the Broncos organization.
The owners of the two stores are donating 100 percent of the costs and the staff is volunteering all production time to this cause, said Stuckel.
Stuckel said she and her co-workers wanted to do something special to help those who are suffering so badly.
“We all really felt we needed to do something,” she said.
The T-shirts will be sold for a minimum $15 donation and all proceeds will go directly to the Broncos organization, said Stuckel.
“We wanted to do something on our own, so will be sending a cheque directly to the Broncos organization,” she said.
Stuckel said early Tuesday evening that Penticton IGA owner Colin Powell wanted to get involved, so his grocery store will be sponsoring a barbecue in the parking lot at Sherwood Trophies beginning at 3 p.m. on Thursday. All proceeds from the barbecue will also be forwarded to the Broncos organization, she said.
Stuckel grew up in Lake Lenore, which is located only a few kilometres from Humboldt and several members of her family attended Broncos games on a regular basis.
“It was a very hard weekend,” she said. “I know so many people from Humboldt and I can’t imagine what they are going through. My sister married a former Broncos player. The hockey team is such a big part of life in Humboldt. It’s been really hard.”
As part of National Jersey Day, Stuckel said she’s heard members of the Penticton Minor Hockey Association will be wearing hockey jerseys to school.
Besides printing T-shirts, Sherwood is also printing hundreds of decals supporting the Broncos that players on local hockey teams can order, she said.
Brett Darin, the owner of Sherwood Signs & Graphics, said he and his staff are proud to be doing their own small part to lend a helping hand in a tragedy that has touched the hearts of Canadians from coast to coast and people around the world.
“We’re just doing what we can when we can,” he said.
Numerous hockey teams from across the region have inquired about picking up decals to place on their helmets and they will continue to produce the decals and T-shirts as long as people ask, he said.
Considering the magnitude of this tragedy, Stuckel expects long lineups for the T-shirts on Thursday morning.
Meanwhile, a group of hockey moms from Langley have launched a provincial campaign to show support for the victims of the bus crash.
They have gone public with their desire to have as many B.C. residents as possible wear a hockey jersey — or any other type of sports jersey — on April 12 to support crash victims and their families.
“On Thursday, April 12, 2018 we will wear our jerseys to show our support and send our love,” reads a post on the group’s Facebook page.
Humboldt Strong T-shirts can be picked up at on Thursday morning at Sherwood Trophies, 498 Vees Drive, Penticton. Parking is available at the rear of the building.
Any companies or sports associations that would like to order larger quantities of shirts please can call Sherwood Trophies.
If you have any other questions, contact Sherwood Trophies at 250-492-4949 or [email protected].
