Photo by Deb Gau People arriving at the Red Baron Arena and Expo for Tuesday’s varsity hockey games brought donations of cleaning supplies and toiletries to help people escaping domestic violence. Members of the Marshall Squirt B hockey teams, including Jett Engler, Will Schroeder and Adrian Hennen collected donations for WoMen’s Rural Advocacy Programs (WRAP).

MARSHALL — The Red Baron Arena and Expo was bustling with hockey fans and players carrying their gear. But some of the people coming in through the doors Tuesday night were also carrying household items, from cleaning supplies and packages of paper towels, to bags of toiletries.

It was all part of a donation drive through the Marshall Amateur Hockey Association’s Hometown Hockey Heroes program. Members of the Squirt B hockey teams collected donations that will go toward WoMen’s Rural Advocacy Programs (WRAP). WRAP is an area nonprofit that works to advocate for victims and survivors of domestic abuse.

Groups of hockey players worked in shifts to collect donations before the Marshall boys and girls varsity hockey games on Tuesday. The boys said it was “pretty fun” to do something good for the community.

“Honestly, it feels good,” said Adrian Hennen.

Marshall youth hockey players have been taking part in Hometown Hero events for several years, organizers said. The program focuses on teaching young people leadership and community service.

Marshall hockey players have done a wide range of service projects. Kids and parents at Tuesday’s event talked about helping with Food4Kids, and even bell-ringing for the Salvation Army.

Halie Speiser, one of the adults helping players collect donations on Tuesday, said holding a drive to help WRAP was one of a couple ideas MAHA members had been thinking about.

“The idea came about around the beginning of December,” Speiser said. She said the idea of helping WRAP took on added importance after Marshall resident Meredith Martell died as a result of domestic violence on Dec. 17.

WRAP accepts donations of new household supplies like cleaning products, toiletries and diapers, to help people who are getting away from domestic violence.

WRAP was a good cause to help support, Speiser said. The donation drive could also help raise awareness of WRAP’s mission.

“It’s something maybe not as many people know about,” she said.