Eden Prairie boys’ hockey senior forward and alternate captain Cole Pitzl sorts frosting donations at PROP Food Shelf on Dec. 7 as players prepared 184 birthday bags for local families. Photo by Rick Olson
Local boys hockey players kicked off a birthday-bag drive with cake mix, frosting and candles — and then iced the effort days later by helping turn those donations into something families can use.
In the process, Eden Prairie High School players saw up close how a few hours of work can make a difference for neighbors in need — a shift that became clear once they walked through PROP Food’s shelves, heard what local families face, and understood how a simple birthday bag can help.
On Dec. 4, JV and varsity players from Eden Prairie and Chanhassen, joined by volunteers from both programs and members of the Eden Prairie Hockey Association’s Bantam AA team, filled the lobby of the Eden Prairie Community Center as they gathered cake mixes, frosting, candles and other supplies for PROP Food, the 501(c)(3) serving Eden Prairie and Chanhassen residents facing financial, housing or employment insecurity.
Eden Prairie Hockey Association Bantam AA players hold birthday-bag donations during a Dec. 4 collection at the Eden Prairie Community Center. Photo by Rick Olson
From left, parent volunteer Sharon Moten collects a birthday-bag donation from Eden Prairie Hockey Association Bantam AA players Finn, Bennett and Matt during the Dec. 4 drive at the Eden Prairie Community Center. Photo by Rick Olson
By the end of the night, carts overflowed with donations — 710 pounds in all, including 576 pounds of food.
Three days later, on Dec. 7, Eden Prairie High School boys’ hockey JV and varsity players brought the supplies into PROP Food Shelf at 14700 Martin Drive. Inside, they sorted donations, checked expiration dates and began assembling the birthday bags.
Working in shifts — forwards first, then defensemen and goalies — they moved between rooms. One station handled cake mix and frosting; another packed candles, utensils, napkins and paper plates into plastic bags. By the end, they had finished 184 bags.
Prima Sisinni, PROP’s director of development and communications, explains the sorting and bagging process to Eden Prairie High School hockey players during their Dec. 7 visit. Photo by Rick Olson
Some bags went straight onto the top shelf of PROP’s self-select SuperShelf food mart. Others were wheeled to the office of Prima Sisinni, PROP’s director of development and communications, after the main shelves ran out of space.
Sisinni paused the bustle to explain why the work mattered — and how PROP differs from The PROP Shop, 15195 Martin Drive, down the road, a separate resale nonprofit that sells donated goods and provides free essentials to local families.
PROP provides a full suite of services, she told the players, including short-term financial help, employment counseling, mental health support, wellness coaching, youth scholarships and case management.
“We take a full social-services approach — ensuring families receive the holistic support they need to regain stability and thrive,” she said.
Eden Prairie freshman forward RJ Thompson (center) helps sort cake-mix donations with teammates at PROP Food Shelf on Dec. 7. Photo by Rick Olson
Beginning Monday, Dec. 8, the birthday bags were stocked on the top shelves of the food mart. “When clients come into the food shelf, they’ll see the birthday bags or be told they’re available and can simply take one,” Sisinni said.
At one point, parent volunteer Sharon Moten asked how many players belonged to National Honor Society, Key Club, Young Men’s Service League, Bright Sides Service League or other volunteer groups. Almost every hand went up.
Eden Prairie High School hockey players sort utensils, plates and napkins on Dec. 7 at PROP Food Shelf, one of several stations used to assemble 184 birthday bags for local families. Photo by Rick Olson
As players listened to Sisinni describe how difficult it can be for families to ask for help — and how a birthday bag can mean a celebration instead of going without — the room seemed to settle. The work took on weight.
Many said they planned to volunteer again. Moten and Sisinni expect to explore additional service opportunities for the teams in the coming months.
Team captains Bennett Wilmer and Cameron Rice, along with alternate captain Cole Pitzl, helped organize the players as carts and completed bags cycled through the rooms.
Cameron Rice, one of Eden Prairie’s boys hockey captains, moves a cart of completed birthday bags at PROP Food Shelf on Dec. 7 as players sorted donations and assembled kits for local families. Photo by Rick Olson
By the time the players finished cleaning up, the shelves held nearly 200 birthday bags — a strong showing for a first-time partnership. Sisinni called it “a successful initial venture” and said she hopes the collaboration continues next season.
From left, Eden Prairie varsity goaltenders Luke Erickson and Bennett Wilmer — a senior and team captain — pack birthday bags at PROP Food Shelf on Dec. 7. Photo by Rick Olson