For the third year in a row, the Augustana Vikings are collecting new, still packaged toys to donate to the Stollery Children's Hospital. The initiative, which was started in 2015 by volleyball player Nicole Brockman and hockey player Brett Ponich. The initiative has grown over the last three years and Vikes for Tykes now holds several fundraisers throughout the academic year to raise funds and collect toys. In its first two years, Vikes for Tykes has collected almost 900 toys and raised almost $8,000. 

This year, the fundraisers' goal is to collect 500 toys to take to the Stollery in January. They've also partnered with Habitat for Humanity to create a the Vikes for Tykes Summer Camp Grant for youth ages 6-17 who live in a Habitat for Humanity house in Camrose. The grant will give those youth up to $300 to help cover the cost of attending an Augustana summer camp program of their choice. 

Opportunities to donate are still available, as the Vikings hockey team will have their last home game of 2018 on Nov. 23 at 7:30 p.m. and the basketball teams will play their last home games of 2018 on Nov. 30 at 6 and 8 p.m. Boxes will be available at the EnCana hockey arena and the Augustana gymnasium to collect donations and the Vikes' Crew front of house workers will be available to collect any cash donations fans may choose to make. 

For more information on Vikes for Tykes, email Brett Ponich at bponich@ualberta.ca and for more information on the Summer Camp Grant, email Brenda with Habitat for Humanity at bmurdock@habitatcamrose.com.

Vikes for Tykes would also like to thank Camrose Canadian Brewhouse for their support and the great prizes they're giving the Vikings teams who raise the most toys!