Sharks plan to donate $10,000 to Gilroy shooting victims, honor first responders

The San Jose Sharks announced a plan Thursday to aid and honor the victims and first responders of last month’s Gilroy Garlic Festival shooting, which left three victims dead and 12 others injured.

The team will donate $10,000 to the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, which has organized the Gilroy Garlic Festival Victims Relief Fund.

A portion of the Sept. 22 Sharks Fan Fest proceeds will also go to the fund, and the team also said it will honor the shooting’s first responders during “Heroes Appreciation Night” Jan. 27 with a pregame ceremony and puck drop.

Proceeds from that night’s 50/50 raffle will go to the Gilroy Foundation, the team said.

The organization also invited victims and their families to the Dec. 14 San Jose Barracuda game against the Stockton Heat free of charge. The AHL’s Barracuda will wear “Gilroy Strong” warm-up jerseys during the month of December and auction them off, donating the proceeds to the Gilroy Foundation.

The Sharks are not the only Bay Area sports team to show support for victims of the shooting: The Giants sold shirts with supportive messages at Oracle Park, saying that all proceeds would go to the same fund, and the A’s announced they’d also donate $10,000.