The Canes' Patrick Dwyer was doing some Christmas shopping today at the Target in North Hills, but not for his family.
Dwyer joined Brandon Sutter, Justin Peters and Erik Cole (below) in helping those less fortunate pick out clothes, toys and other Christmas goodies. Each of the four Santa Canes was paired with a child, who was selected by PLM Families Together and Wake County Human Services.
"It's a good cause and one of those things where I like to get out in the community and help kids like this," Dwyer said. "Having kids of my own, it kind of touches the heart. So to be able to help a family is kind of near and dear to me.
"Some of the kids are shy to it. But you reiterate that you want to do it and they open up to you. It's exciting and makes you feel good for being able to help them."
Two of the recipients, Sydney Tulloch and Amber Williams, were teenagers chosen from the Fuquay-Varina Youth Initiative.
"This is so exciting for these kids," said Jessica Lisane of the Fuquay-Varina Youth Initiative. "They've earned it through a combination of their hard work and because of the economic times they're in. We're grateful to the Hurricanes for giving back to the community."
Tulloch, 14, was teamed with Peters. She was asked afterward what excited her the most about the visit to Target. Ever so shy, she smiled and mulled it over for a few seconds before softly saying, "Having Justin help me."
The shopping at Target was part of a big community day for the Hurricanes players, who spread out far and wide.
Players visited patients at Rex Hospital, WakeMed Hospital, North Carolina Childrens Hospital and Duke Children's Hospital. They signed autographs, posed for photos, handed out Hurricanes and NHL items.
Canes players, including Sutter and Peters, also visited the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina, assisting Food Bank and BeActive NC staff in packing backpacks for the Food Bank's BackPack program and to help promote the Pound for Pound Challenge. For each pound that participants pledge to lose as part of the Pound for Pound Challenge, Feeding America receives 14 cents, enough to deliver one pound of groceries to a local food bank.
"People see us out here and come up to our P.R. guys and want to know if it's really us," Dwyer said. "They see that these guys aren't just collecting paychecks but are giving back to the community. It's a good thing for us to do."
A Raleigh native, Chip has worked at the N&O since 1979 and is the Canes beat writer. He can be reached at 
