NHL Officials Association donates $10,000 to No Kid Hungry

The National Hockey League Officials Association, through its Zebras Care charity, has donated $10,000 to No Kid Hungry, a program that provides food to children and teaches families how to prepare healthy, affordable meals.

No Kid Hungry was launched in 2010 by Share Our Strength, a nonprofit organization working to solve problems of hunger and poverty in the United States and around the world.

"It was brought to our attention that the closing of schools around the country has had an effect on children getting regular nutritious meals," NHLOA president Dan O'Halloran said. "We felt that this is what this charity is all about and wanted to try and do our part as officials in the best hockey league in the world."

The 2019-20 NHL season was paused March 12 due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus.

"Knowing the importance to help children, the National Hockey League Officials Association and our children's charity Zebras Care wanted to help those in need during this unprecedented time," O'Halloran said.

Created in 2007, Zebras Care helps give opportunities for underprivileged and sick children to attend an NHL game and visit NHLOA members beforehand to ask about the rules, learn about behind-the-scenes preparation, step on the ice and at times sit in the penalty box.

Many NHLOA members are involved with personal charities, including O'Halloran, who with his wife, Michelle, has hosted a golf outing the past 15 years that's raised money to send children who have had organ transplants to summer camp.

O'Halloran worked his 1,500th regular-season NHL game Feb. 9, when the Detroit Red Wings defeated the Boston Bruins 3-1 at Little Caesars Arena. He's officiated in the Stanley Cup Final 10 times, as well as at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics and the World Cup of Hockey 2016.