Cobras Hockey players round up turkeys for Together We Cope

South suburban high school students who play with Cobras Hockey Club will gather in Oak Lawn on Nov. 2 to collect turkeys (or cash donations that will be used to purchase turkeys) to benefit Together We Cope, a non-profit agency based in Tinley Park that assists families in crisis from 22 south suburban communities.

The Saturday turkey drive will take place in front of Stacked Restaurant, 5273 West 95th St. in Oak Lawn, from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. The frozen turkeys will be distributed in November to families that receive food assistance from Together We Cope’s food pantry. On average, 65 south suburban families per day, five days per week, receive groceries from the TWC pantry.

“This gift of a holiday turkey will be greatly appreciated by families who might not be able to afford it this season because of a crisis in their lives such as unemployment or illness,” said Kathryn Straniero, executive director of TWC. “To have their neighbors reach out and remember them this holiday is a very special gesture, and we are grateful to the Cobras Hockey Club for helping us to make this happen.”

The Cobras organization formed in 1997 and currently serves students from Andrew, Tinley Park, Oak Forest, Oak Lawn, Shepard, Stagg, Richards and Evergreen Park high schools. Its goal is to develop and promote competitive youth amateur hockey in the southwest suburban Chicago region. Cobras home ice is the Oak Lawn Ice Arena, where both junior varsity and varsity hockey players get an opportunity to participate in the sport of ice hockey. Further information on the club is at www.cobrashockey.com