2024 Thunder Days of Giving Supports 11 Different Community Organizations

EDMONTON, AB – An annual tradition for Thunder Athletics, Concordia University of Edmonton (CUE) student-athletes, coaches, and athletics staff participated in the 5th Thunder Days of Giving initiative. Throughout the winter break, each Thunder team found a different way to give back and support the community through an organization that was important to them.

Badminton: Bissell Centre

CUE Badminton volunteered their time with the Bissell Centre, helping pack up gifts and deliver them to families. The Bissell Centre is an organization that aims to help families and individuals have sustainable livelihoods, secure and safe housing, and can meet their basic daily needs.

Men’s Basketball: Concordia Students Association

Thunder Men’s Basketball spent time gathering donations for the Concordia Students Association Clothing Drive. Men's Basketball donated clothing to the CSA's Clothing Drive for Men. This was a CSA initiative to support men's health. All donations were sent from the CSA to the Herb Jamieson Centre, who offer short term and emergency shelter to men with a lack of available resources.

Women’s Basketball: Cecilia’s Closet

Thunder Women’s Basketball jumped at the opportunity to help out at St. Cecilia Junior High School. A local school in Edmonton, St. Cecilia runs an initiative called “Cecilia’s Closet”, where students from the school who may not have opportunities to buy new clothes are able to select items they wish to bring home at no cost to them. All the clothing is donated by teachers, students, and other local organizations. Our women’s basketball program not only donated clothes to the initiative, but they also spent two days organizing the room, and made clothing packages for students to take home. Third-year guard Georgia Bowman mentioned that initiatives like this are “important because it gives kids and families an opportunity to access some clothes that they may not have a chance to access on their own. It also gives us a chance to interact with kids in our local community”.

Curling: Thistle Curling Club

CUE Curling helped organize, and run a junior curling program day with Thistle Curling Club. The Thistle Curling Club is the home ice for Thunder Curling. The junior curling program includes an introduction to curling, skill development, and game experience. The level and time spent on intro/skills/games/etc is customized to each curler based on their skill levels.

Golf: Kids with Cancer Society

Thunder Golf ran a golf simulator fundraiser, where the team hit shots on a TrackMan Simulator in either a Closest to the Pin or Long Drive (Female or Male Separate) contest to raise money. Supporters donated $10 per shot with proceeds going to the Kids With Cancer Society. In total, the team raised over $3850 at the event. The Kids with Cancer Society makes a difference in the lives of children and their families who are battling cancer. They offer a range of programs and services that act as a lifeline for families. 

Indoor Track/Cross-Country: Edmonton Food Bank

The CUE Indoor Track and Cross Country team worked together to raise money towards donations for the Edmonton Food Bank this year. This year the team was able to raise and purchase over $1000 worth of supplies. Food Banks Canada is the leader in addressing food insecurity in Canada. Their mission is to provide national leadership to relieve hunger today and prevent hunger tomorrow in collaboration with the food bank network from coast to coast.

Men’s Hockey: Hockey Gives Blood

Thunder Men’s Hockey participated in an initiative close to their sport with Hockey Gives Blood. Hockey Gives Blood is a non-profit society that has partnered with the Canadian Blood Services in an effort to engage and educate the hockey community about the importance of blood, plasma, stem cell, and organ & tissue donation. A group of 9 athletes and 2 coaches from Concordia hockey signed up to donate blood with Canadian Blood Services. 

Men’s Soccer: Help Portrait

Organized by Thunder photographer Rai Hooper, Help Portrait was a free event, giving Edmontonians the opportunity to get clothes, hair, and makeup, and have photos taken of themselves and their families, printed and framed right on site. Over 200 people participated in the experience and left with beautiful photos from the top photographers, new clothes, and big smiles. Our men’s soccer program helped by organizing all clothing donations for the event, allowing participants to enter a changeroom with multiple clothing options readily available for them. 

Women’s Soccer: Thrive Elementary School

Thunder Women’s Soccer spent the day with Thrive Elementary School, working inside the school during regular school hours and running a soccer session during “Thrive Time”. Thrive Elementary is a public school offering an accessible and challenging K-6 program. The school day runs from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, with Thrive Time happening after regular school class hours, allowing students to explore music, arts and sports.

Men’s Volleyball: Mustard Seed

Thunder Men’s Volleyball took time this holiday season to gather up donations for the Mustard Seed. As a team they collected a mix of food, water, and hygiene products to be donated. The Mustard Seed is a non-profit organization that has been caring for individuals experiencing homelessness and poverty since 1984. Operating in six cities across Western Canada, The Mustard Seed is a supportive haven where people can have their physical, mental, and spiritual needs met and grow toward greater health and independence.

Women’s Volleyball: Indigenous Sport Council of Alberta

A new initiative for Days of Giving, the Women’s Volleyball team partnered with the Indigenous Sport Council of Alberta in the Spirited Sole's Campaign as well as through donations and their Indigenous Celebration Game Night. The Spirited Soles Campaign aims to collect new or gently used footwear for Northern Indigenous communities. In total Women’s Volleyball was able to contribute over 50 pairs of footwear to the campaign. First year Left Side Alex MacDonald added This year’s Indigenous Celebration was such a brilliant event to recognize the First Nations peoples. Paired with a beautiful drumming ceremony, we got to embrace and support the Indigenous culture by giving back to less fortunate communities in Canada through the Spirited Souls Campaign! By donating slightly used athletic shoes, we could make a valuable difference in youth’s lives by providing them with the means necessary to support their future sport endeavours.”

Thunder Athletics is very proud of all our athletes, coaches, and staff who took part in this year's program. We look forward to our next Days of Giving initiative in December 2025.