Jean-Martin Gerchen, Central Reform Congregation

A left-winger with a scoring touch, Jean-Martin plays on a youth hockey club, the St. Louis Rockets. His team won back-to-back Missouri State Championships in 2014 and 2015. So, it only seemed fitting for him to parlay his passion for hockey into his mitzvah project.

Jean-Martin, son of Bob Gerchen and Holly Gerchen of University City, organized an exhibition game pitting members of his two championship squads against the Gateway Locomotives, a hockey organization for developmentally disabled teens and young adults. “Last year, after my first Pee Wee season, we had a friendship game with the Locomotives and I thought it was very inspirational,” he said. “So I decided to have another game with their great organization.”

The St. Louis Rockets donated an hour of ice time, and on March 30, the two teams took to the ice. Jean-Martin played goaltender for this game. In addition, his teammates played opposite-handed for the entire game (lefties played right-handed, righties played left-handed).  

In the end, the Locomotives proved too strong for the defending champs, coming out on the winning end with an 8-2 score. It was an exciting game for both teams and the 80 spectators in the stands, many of whom made a donation. “The competition was tough because of their great passing and accurate shooting,” said Jean-Martin. “They really lit me up in goal.”

Invisible Children, Inc. (ICI) was the beneficiary of the $740 raised from the game. Jean-Martin, a student at Wydown Middle School, explained that he gave the proceeds to ICI because he has learned more about their mission and their work since the first time he contributed to them at age nine. “I wanted to continue to support them again,” he said.

Invisible Children is an organization that brings awareness to the activities of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) in central Africa and its leader, Joseph Kony, by attempting to put an end to the practices of the LRA, which include abductions and abuse of children and forcing them to serve as soldiers.

Interestingly, the Locomotives, a non-profit, requested that the proceeds be donated to a third-party organization. Jim Hermann, of the Locomotives, told Jean-Martin that their organization already receives grants from various local foundations, and while they appreciate donations, they also like to be a part of mitzvah projects and see money raised for other worthwhile organizations.

Mitzvot from the Heart is compiled by Editorial Assistant Elise Krug: [email protected].