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CHARLOTEE--The temperatures are getting colder and so is the ice at the Time Warner Cable Arena, as the Charlotte Checkers get ready to kick off their season.

Away games are currently underway, but in Charlotte, other members of the Checkers team are counting down to the first home game, by giving back to the community.

On Sunday morning, staff and Checkmates got their hands dirty at the Humane Society of Charlotte.

"We clean out their cages and give them their food in the morning here, and change their litter box,” said Tera Black, chief operating officer for the Charlotte Checkers.

It’s a part of the team’s second annual “15 Days of Giving.” For roughly two weeks, players and staff volunteer and give resources and donations to non-profits in Charlotte.

"It's a community, right? So if we're all working together great things happen. Just here today, you see families uniting with animals and all this great happiness,” said Black.

They said it's a great experience for everyone involved.

"The Human Society is amazing, it really is. It's such a wonderful place to be, these animals are so well cared for. You get to see them adopted, it’s wonderful,” said Black.

Those on the receiving end said the extra hands are appreciated.

"It's fabulous, them getting involved in the community and we can always do with the help,” said Guy Presence, animal care supervisor for the Humane Society of Charlotte.

Those volunteering aren't just helping to clean and prepare for the day, but they also got to play with and exercise the animals, and even see some get adopted once they're open.

"I hope they'll realize that it's a lot of good fun. It's a lot of hard work, but the animals really appreciate it and so do the staff,” said Presence.

And they hope by reaching out to so many groups and so many people during this two-week event, they'll inspire others to do the same.

“There's all kinds of great ways to volunteer so we hope everybody tags along and does something good for the great city of Charlotte,” said Black.

On Monday, the team will be participating in Mecklenburg County Cleanup Day, by doing a garden cleanup. The Charlotte Checkers’ first home game of the season is Sunday, November 4.