February can certainly be “blah,” which is why one local businessman has decided to host a free community skate.
The event, hosted by Barrie mortgage broker Steven Pettis, is scheduled to take place from 2 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 24 at Sadlon Arena in the city’s south end.
In addition to being able to lace up your skates and hit the big ice, the family-friendly event will boast a variety of giveaways from local businesses, the chance to hang with Pikachu and Boss Baby, as well as the opportunity to just get out, be active and have some fun with friends and family.
“February is blah — it’s like the dog days of winter — and I want to bring some joy to the community. Would love to see everybody there,” Pettis told BarrieToday, adding he felt it would be a fun way to give back to his community.
During the skate, Pettis will also be collecting gently used winter attire, which will then be donated to the John Howard Society of Simcoe and Muskoka (JHSSM).
Anyone who brings a donation will be given one free ticket for a door prize, he noted, adding there will be the opportunity to purchase additional tickets, with 100 per cent of the proceeds being donated to the JHSSM
“It’s important to me that people get warm clothes, and that people who are homeless get the support they need. I was once homeless and I was once in need of support,” Pettis said. “There’s not much funding for this (issue). It’s important for me to go out there and say … that there are some good people out there who are (homeless).
"Maybe the interest rates went up and they had to sell their house, maybe grandpa worked at a factory all his life and it closed down," he added. "It’s important to me that people get the help they need and we stop seeing people on the street not getting help. Everyone deserves a warm place to stay."
