Black Hawks Donation Drop-Off *Canceled*

Here's an update to our previously released article:

The Waterloo Black Hawks have canceled Friday’s Donation Drop-Off event planned for Young Arena.

According to a press release from the team:

The decision was made after consultation with Black Hawk County Sheriff Tony Thompson regarding the evolving COVID-19 situation, particularly northeast Iowa’s changing status requiring additional protective measures beginning on April 17th.

As soon as possible, the Black Hawks will share updates regarding where, when, and how items which had been gathered for donation may still be contributed for their intended purpose.

The team would like to thank all fans who indicated their enthusiasm for this effort, while also encouraging everyone to stay safe and follow social distancing guidelines during the current situation.

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(*previous article from April 15th below)

If you're missing hockey...and need to get out of the house a little...here's a great way to help the community...so wash your hands, break out the hand sanitizer and throw on a face mask (if you so choose...) and head to Young Arena!

If you've been to Black Hawks game, you've heard him billed as "THE GREATEST MASCOT IN THE WORLD", "Tommy Hawk"!!! - Tommy will be at Young Arena Friday to greet Black Hawks fans (from a social distancing-appropriate proximity, of course) as they drop off their donations to help during the COVID-19 pandemic. Pull up to the rink’s front steps between 4 and 6 p.m. Friday to make a donation of food, gift cards for hospital workers, or fabric and other materials which can be turned into protective face masks, and you will receive an appreciative wave and thumbs-up from Tommy! Who knows? Maybe he'll throw in a few dance moves as well?

“A lot of people are looking for an outlet to do something good, and we think the team can help channel that urge,” said Black Hawks President of Business Operations Joe Greene.

In a team press release, Greene went on to say: “This would have been the final weekend of our regular season, and even though our players don’t have the chance to win any more games, we’d like to make a difference in a different way.”

All non-perishable food collected will be donated to the Northeast Iowa Food Bank.  Proteins like peanut butter, canned tuna, and canned chicken are being sought, along with canned fruits and vegetables, other shelf-stable items, and non-food products like toilet paper and other personal care items. Black Hawks fans may also make a monetary donation by check to Northeast Iowa Food Bank; the organization estimates that they are able to provide four meals for each dollar of donations.

Friday’s Donation Drop-Off will also collect gift cards for local hospital workers at Mercy One locations in the Cedar Valley.  The Black Hawks recommend gift cards from area restaurants which can be redeemed by medical professionals who are giving it up on the "front lines".

Finally, if you have cotton fabric, clean gently-used sheets, 1/8 inch elastic material, bias tape, or stretchy hair ties, your donations of those items will be provided to "Northern Iowa Mask Makers". The group will turn those items into protective face masks, which can help limit COVID-19 from being passed to other people.