The Cleveland Monsters' and Physicians Ambulance's Season of Giving helped make the end of 2019 memorable for Northeast Ohio residents. By volunteering, assembling kits for local families in need, and providing monetary donations, the Monsters and Physicians Ambulance were able to reach several local organizations and make an impact during the holiday season.

With additional help from the Monsters Better Halves, the groups recently volunteered at Cleveland Hope Lodge, St. Herman House, Eliza Bryant Nursing Home, and Laura’s Home. A memorable moment for Monsters and Canton Charge staff members consisted of putting together over one thousand “Comeback Kits,” including toiletries, socks and other items to help two local service organizations, City Mission and R.A.K.E.

The Monsters’ players were also feeling the holiday spirit during their second visit to University Hospital’s Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital. Several players donned Santa Hats and visited several branches of UH to deliver presents and spend time with over a dozen patients.

Additionally, the Monsters’ annual Chuck-A-Bear night on December 14 against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins proved to be a highlight of the season this far. Dating back to the early 1990’s in junior and professional hockey, Teddy Bear Toss nights involve fans throwing stuffed animals onto the ice following the home team’s first goal with the toys traditionally donated to local charities.

Following Dillon Simpson’s power-play goal in the second period on the 14th, the players’ celebration included dodging teddy bears flung in their direction. This season, the Monsters collected a team-record 8,762 stuffed animals that were donated to children’s hospitals across the region. Joining the Monsters in their collection efforts since 2013 have been the brothers of the Kappa Sigma fraternity in Kent State University’s Epsilon Rho chapter.

“Being in charge of Chuck-A-Bear on our fraternity’s side was a very cool experience for me,” said Josh Kiesling, a brother of Kappa Sigma. “Many of my brothers kept talking about how it felt like it was actually raining teddy bears while they were out there.”

The brothers from Kappa Sigma joined members of the Monsters staff, Top Line Dance Team and Ice Crew directly on the ice for the stuffed animal clean-up. Kappa Sigma also worked with their fellow Kent State Greek organizations to generate additional Chuck-A-Bear donations, outside of the game itself.

“Running on the ice after the first goal and seeing all those bears being thrown was truly amazing also knowing all the good that it does for the community,” said Kiesling.