This past weekend members of the Stoney Creek Optimist Little League and Ancaster Little League 10 year-old all-star teams stepped up to the plate to help the Hope Mountain Backpack Challenge.

In doing so both the Stoney Creek Jays and the Ancaster Cardinals showed that not only are they phenomenal ball players, but also incredible role models and leaders in their associations.

The teams were asked to bring school supplies to their championship game on Sunday, July 13th, to assist with the Hope Mountain Backpack Challenge's goal to fill 1000 backpacks with school supplies for local kids in need. These two teams rose to the occasion, and filled 20 backpacks! The players and their families rallied together when challenged with this initiative, and helped 20 children in our City to be well equipped to have a successful school year.

The "Hope Mountain Backpack Challenge" is an initiative of the Hamilton Roundtable for Poverty Reduction, KidsFest Canada and the city of Hamilton. Local companies in the city have raised funds to purchase 1000 backpacks and with the help of the community and other local companies these backpacks will be filled with school supplies and will be distributed to children of low-income families within our community for the upcoming school year.

Rikki Frith, of the city of Hamilton, says "Education is the number one way for people to break free from the poverty cycle, so this is a tangible effort that will benefit a small percentage of the estimated 24,000 kids living in poverty in Hamilton."

The Stoney Creek Jays 10 year-old all-stars challenge you to help fill the remaining backpacks. If you would like to contribute to the "Hope Mountain Backpack Challenge" you can drop off school supplies at Stoney Creek Optimist Little League from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. each night until Friday July 18th.

For more information, please contact Rikki Frith at rfrith@hamilton.ca, or call the Hamilton Roundtable for Poverty Reduction at 905-523-5600, x222.