If you have a skateboard and a helmet and you want to help those in need this Christmas, take part in the 9th annual Shred, Share, Stoked.
The competition, Sunday at the Greg Moore Youth Centre in Maple Ridge, will start with those 12 and younger, followed by a 13-18 age category. Skateboarders will be divided into beginner, intermediate and advanced levels.
This year, organizers are hoping to get more youth out to the event in the younger category.
Admission is $5, or five non-perishable food items or five gently used articles of clothing, all of which will be donated to the Friends in Need Food Bank and Cythera Transition House Society.
Jesse Holland, now staff at the Greg Moore Youth Centre, was one of the founders of the event.
“He was just transitioning from being a youth to being a staff and they were a group of skateboarders who really wanted to ignite their skateboarding peers to give back. And this is what they came up with,” explained Meghan MacMillan, youth services programmer.
Usually the event raises about $200 to $300 for charity in addition to multiple bags of clothing. MacMillan estimates around eight to 10 garbage bags of clothes each year and three banker boxes of non-perishable food.
This year they want to beat those totals.
“Especially in the food department and the money department. It’s nice to bring money to the food bank at this time of year,” said MacMillan.
There were just over 40 participants last year and around 100 people came out to watch the event. Parents are being encouraged to attend.
Over 20 prizes will be handed out, including skateboards, trucks for skateboards, wheels and shoes.
Shred, Share, Stoked takes place on Sunday at the Greg Moore Youth Centre, 11925 Haney Place, Maple Ridge. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the competition will start at 7 p.m.
Helmets are mandatory and are available at the competition. A parent or legal guardian must sign a waiver at the door for participants.
The Greg Moore Youth Centre will be hosting a free drop-in holiday dinner at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 19 for youth 12 to 18 years old. A dinner of turkey and ham, with fixings will be cooked by staff at the youth centre with support from the youth council.
Last year, there were between 35 to 45 youth in the community who attended.
Over the Christmas break, there will be on-going programming at the Greg Moore Youth Centre.
The centre will be closed Dec. 24, 25, 26 and 31 and Jan. 1.