The Detroit Red Wings hosted their first annual School Supply Collection during the 2011-12 season. The team partnered with a local non-profit Operation: Kid Equip, which empowers children to overcome many of the obstacles they encounter during the school day by providing school supplies, books, hygiene items and other aid for students across metro Detroit. Operation: Kid Equip also partners with schools to improve reading proficiency levels by providing books to enhance home libraries.
The Red Wings collected more than 3,283 school supplies and $399 in monetary donations for the first annual School Supply Collection on March 24, 2012.
Goaltenders Jimmy Howard and Joey MacDonald joined forces in an autograph signing for charity on March 7, 2012, raising money for Operation: Kid Equip and the Arthritis Foundation. More than $2,800 was brought in for OKE, which will allow the charity to pay for the shipment of one semi truck full of school supplies. The non-profit has to turn away school supply donations when they don't have the funds to pay for the shipping costs.
The 2012-13 collection will take place on Monday, April 1, 2013, when the Wings take on the Colorado Avalanche at 7:30 p.m.!
