On Wednesday, the Hershey Bears’ American Hockey League team presented presents to under-priviledged kids from the Lebanon area during a visit to Lebanon County Christian Ministries. Dressed mostly in ‘Hoodies’, jeans and sneakers, each of the 23 players on the team gave gifts to local children that they had personally selected and purchased.

 After each gift had been given, the children were encouraged to interact with the Hershey players, none of whom are native to the area. The Bears also handed out autographed trading cards of themselves to the children.

 The gift-giving was the inspiration of Hershey captain Bryan Helmer, and his teammates certainly embraced the concept. ‘Coco’, the mascot of the Hershey Bears, and Santa Claus himself, also made an appearance.

 The event was coordinated by LCCM through the cooperation of the United Way of Lebanon County. Lebanon County Christian Ministries was recently named Lebanon County’s ‘non-profit of 2009’ by the Lebanon Valley Chamber of Commerce.