For Ducks, it's season for giving

IRVINE, Calif. -- Socks and shoes came before toys and games.
Christmas arrived a bit early for more than a dozen children from The Wooden Floor, a dance nonprofit based in Santa Ana, California. It came in the form of a shopping excursion to Target at the Irvine Spectrum on Thursday, courtesy of the Anaheim Ducks.

This wasn't the case of someone writing a check, posing for pictures and promptly driving off.
Ducks forward Antoine Vermette was busy walking the aisles looking for the right shoes for an 11-year-old boy.
Size five.
Center Ryan Kesler was trying to puncture a bubble of natural shyness, to make sure the kids were getting what they needed (clothes) and then what they didn't necessarily need (toys).
"It's special for us to be able to do this, help people that are in need of it," Kesler said. "The two boys I'm with are so humble. They don't even want to say they want anything.
"'Do you want a sweater?' 'Yeah, sure.' They don't want to give you a no."

The mission statement of The Wooden Floor is to "empower low-income youth from diverse backgrounds to strengthen self-esteem, self-discipline and a sense of accomplishment through dance, academic and family programs."
Dawn S. Reese, the organization's chief executive officer and executive director, spoke about many of the parents of the kids working two to three jobs. One recent graduate of the program lived with his mother and two siblings in a one-bedroom apartment.
"What you see here is that they're very grateful," she said. "They're really thoughtful in what they're doing. What they normally do is they head toward the needs; first, underwear, T-shirts. Then we have to say, "OK, what would be something you'd want?'"
For Kesler, this was his third time on the pre-Christmas shopping spree with The Wooden Floor group. Vermette, signed by the Ducks as a free agent in August, was with his wife Karen on Thursday. Other teammates were on hand with their wives or significant others.
Vermette spent part of the afternoon navigating the aisles at Target with Alfonso, who is 11 and attends Lowell Elementary School in Santa Ana. Alfonso's sport is soccer and his favorite team is the Mexican national team.
Vermette's daughters are younger, a 3-year-old and a 1-year-old.
"That's the spirit of holidays," Vermette said. "I have kids myself and you understand that there's way beyond, there's more than hockey, winning and losing. Sometimes you can go through a tougher stretch in your personal or professional life. But there's a bigger picture. This the time of year where you open your heart and try to connect with the real things in life."

Kesler said the first year was "eye-opening" for him.
"Kids were asking for socks, and it really gives you a perspective on how lucky we are to have what we have and to do what we do," he said. "Today we spent an hour picking out clothes and socks, and then we get to the good stuff -- the toys and the fun and the games.
"It's important for them to get the essentials, but still I want to take them to the toys. Every kid should have some toys."
Kesler has three children; his family has made a point of finding homes for its old toys.
"We always donate all the toys they don't use to people at Christmas because we know Santa is coming," Kesler said.
Eventually, the fun part of the afternoon arrived. Alfonso made it to the toy section and took care of a family member.
"I got a Frisbee and a volleyball for my sister," he said.
There was a TV crew chronicling the afternoon of shopping, and Alfonso was asked about Vermette.
"He seemed very kind," Alfonso said. "He brought his wife and I met her. I guess I've seen him in his games. But I've never really been into hockey. But now that really I've met a real hockey player, I got inspired, sort of.
"I met a real hockey player."