All Karlisa Kirkpatrick asked for was a mop.
The single mother of two, who works full-time, was asked what she would like for Christmas this year.
The question caught her off guard as she wasn’t used to being asked for her wish list.
This was the family’s third time using the Langley Christmas Bureau and this year, they had been matched with a local Langley Minor Hockey Association team as their sponsors.
Kirkpatrick figured the team’s coach or a parent would come by and drop off the gifts for her two children, six-year-old Jackson and five-year-old Ackadia.
Instead, the entire Langley midget AAA Eagles team showed up at the family’s Langley home bearing food and presents.
“They each got down on one knee and wished my kids a Merry Christmas. I will remember that forever,” Kirkpatrick said. “I am just so thankful. I knew they were coming, but I didn’t think I would be so emotional.”
Eagles coach Yaseen Chaudhry had several conversations with Kirkpatrick in the weeks leading up to the gift delivery.
“Karlisa is an amazing mom and she deserved a break and we were happy to provide her with a memorable experience,” he said.
“Karlisa is all about her kids and works extremely hard to give them the best life possible. It was an honour to be a part of her Christmas.”
The players did the shopping themselves for the family — coach’s orders — while the parents took care of getting some groceries.
They gift-wrapped all the presents and delivered them to the family, along with Langley hockey jerseys for the kids to wear.
“When the players and their parents came into my living room, it was an amazing feeling,” Kirkpatrick said.
Kirkpatrick said the team’s captain and one of the assistants also took time to talk to her son and he jumped in their arms to hug them.
The family has since attended one of the Eagles games and visited them in the dressing room afterwards.
“I’m very proud of the effort of our team. They jumped at the opportunity to do something for one of our neighbors,” Chaudhry said.
“Christmas isn’t the only time people are in need of a helping hand and as the top midget aged players in our city, it’s a duty for us to give back to the community that has given so much to us.”
The coach said he talked to his players afterwards about how their actions had impacted the family.
“They witnessed firsthand the emotion and gravity of our contribution,” he said. “The bright smiles and happiness on the faces of the children was an amazing feeling to our team.”
Chaudhry also said they have gotten great feedback with other teams and players wanting to get involved in giving back.