When I first joined DBTB, I noticed that our Amerks correspondent Stephanie Delio's signature included a brief description about how she was raising money for a local charity based on player stats throughout the season. I thought it was a brilliant idea - and for the past two years I've done it myself.

• In 2015-2016, stats from the Amerks and Sabres allowed me donate $145 to Lollypop Farm, the Humane Society of Greater Rochester.
• In 2016-17 that number rose to $175.
• In 2017-18 I'm hoping to see that number top $200.

Each season I change up the stats that generate donations. For this season I've chosen the following categories:

*New Sabre Points will be a combined total of all points scored by players who did not play a game for the Sabres last season. As of now that list includes: Seth Griffith, Jacob Josefson, Jordan Nolan, Jason Pominville, Benoit Pouliot, Victor Antipin, Nathan Beaulieu, Marco Scandella, Matt Tennyson, and Chad Johnson.

I'll keep a live update of the progress throughout the season that can be viewed at this link.

Things are rough out in the real world these days and this is one of a few ways that I help to give back and contribute in a positive manner. I encourage anyone else who has the means to find a way that they too can chip in to help those in need.