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January 2009
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Editor's note: Sonja Gantt bloggs each week for The Charlotte Observer's mommy site, MomsCharlotte.com. Food drives are pretty common this time of year. I didn't think much about the two shopping carts in the lobby of the Extreme Ice Center in Indian Trail until I heard about how this collection started. If you're hanging out at Extreme then you are either a lover of figure skating, hockey or the parent of someone who loves skating. Mark Diamond was a member of a hockey team called the Average Joes. He came to the rink for a pickup game on Oct. 24. While he was in the lobby a woman came in looking for a food pantry that is less than a mile from the ice rink. Someone gave her directions and then Mark led her to the door and handed her $20 just in case the pantry was closed. He went on to play hockey and a little while later died there of a massive heart attack. Mark Diamond was 43 and leaves behind a wife and two young sons. As it turns out, for the first time in eight years the nearby pantry (With Love from Jesus) WAS out of food that day. Mark's friends thought a fitting tribute would be to restock the pantry's shelves. In their minds they say Mark actually started the food drive that day with his $20. People are spreading the word with flyers, e-mails and word of mouth around the rink. One 14-year-old figure skater took it upon herself to put flyers in her neighborhood and then collected nearly 200 items from her neighbors. In just 11 days more than 1,700 cans, boxes and jars of food have been brought in. If you live in Union County and are planning on dropping by the rink to skate sometime before Thanksgiving please drop off some food. If that's too far, don't worry, I'm sure there are plenty of places that can use your help right now. We all hope that we will do something that makes a difference and improves the life of someone else. Sometimes we see the impact. Sometimes we don't. But it really doesn't matter. What matters is that we take the time to help. I never had the chance to meet Mark Diamond but his act of kindness is inspiring and a powerful reminder that we are all average Joes capable of making a difference. It doesn't have to be on a grand scale. Look what Mark started with $20. 3 CommentsLeave a comment |
THANK YOU SO MUCH SONJA. YOU ARE ONE IN A MILLION.
THERESA FROM THE SNACK BAR AT THE RINK
Mark IS an angel!!!!! I saw HIS work that SAD day in Oct. He HAS changed my life forever.
Stephanie Madanski from the rink
Ms Gantt we really love watching you every day you are so inspirational. I have followed your career for many years. Are you going to run for office someday?