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The Citizen, 2016-12-22, Page 34Pirarthacy After hour contact # 905-703-0905 453 Turnberry St., Brussels 226-889-4152 Here's hoping your holiday is filled with plenty of rest relaxation and a healthy dose of cheer. Thank you for your trust in us. Happy Holidays! Hours: December 24, 25 & 26 - Closed; December 31 - 9:30 am - 2:00 pm; January 1 - Closed January 2 - 9:30 am - 6:00 pm PAGE 34. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2016. County tackles homelessness By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Huron County is hoping to begin a new "Out of the Cold" program after a successful pilot program was held at Goderich's Lakeshore United Church. Barbara Hall, manager of housing and property services for Huron County, presented her report to Huron County Council at its committee of the whole meeting on Dec. 14. She told council that the program will operate between Jan. 20 and March 31, 2017. The full program, however, once it is up and running, will span from the beginning of the winter season until the end of March in subsequent years. Hall told councillors that the program will launch on Jan. 5 next year, but there will be some administrative needs that have to be met before the program is ready to accept people on Jan. 20. The program, she told council, aims to bring those who find themselves homeless in Huron County in out of the cold and provide them with two hot meals (dinner and breakfast the next day) and a place to sleep overnight. Homelessness, she said, remains a problem in Huron County, despite it often being associated with large urban centres. This program aims to help those in a homeless situation through Huron County's harsh winter months. It is anticipated, Hall said, that the program would move to another church for the winter of 2017/2018. The pilot program, in place later this winter, will serve male guests, Londesboro Christmas Eve service set Continued from page 33 be termed `stuff'. But at Christmas our spirits are ready to receive the greatest gift, the gift of love from God, the gift of a Baby. After the surprise of the announcement to Mary and Joseph came a quiet time of waiting and preparing. And the world had been told a Saviour would come but a quiet time of waiting had been long. But the whole world, like the shepherds, were amazed at the news. Life is like that, it comes in waves of excitement and quiet. Terry asked congregants to consider the changes that that small Christmas family had undergone. They must have felt vulnerable and fearful but trusted their faith to see them through. Their experience was amazing and full of mystery and wonder. Likewise we should trust in God's love to sustain us when our lives seem precarious. We must remember that the Christ Child is always in our midst, even in the tough times. We have only to let His help in. The Christmas Eve service will begin at 7 p.m. Offering received that night will be used for current expenses unless otherwise indicated by the giver. Knox United in Auburn will join the Londesborough congregation on Jan. 1 at 11 a.m. for a New Year's Day worship. See histories and historic photographs on the Huron History section of our website www.northhuron.on.ca Hall said, 18 years of age and older. The program began with the church and it has had good results, Hall said, so she felt it was time to bring it to the county. "Under the Community Homeless Prevention Initiative (CHPI), the province funds 100 per cent of the cost of the program being delivered by Lakeshore United Church, anticipated to be $31,500 for the first season in 2017 (January, February and March)," Hall said in her report. "The Huron Out of the Cold program also meets the requirements of the county's housing and homelessness plan, as adopted by council in November, 2014." Hall told councillors that the Huron program is modelled on a program that has been rolled out in St. Thomas, as well as Oxford County that has had a positive influence in the community. While council reacted positively to the proposal, some councillors wondered if the program could be expanded to serve communities beyond Goderich. Hall told councillors that she wasn't exactly prepared for that question, but that she believes in the program, so if it could serve more people throughout Huron County, that would be better. Councillor David Frayne said that if Huron County residents are already struggling with homelessness, transportation will likely be an issue as well, so if residents from Exeter or Howick needed to take advantage of the program and don't have a place to live in the winter, getting to Goderich would likely be impossible. Hall said that potentially expanding the program would be something that could perhaps be investigated after the first full year in the winter of 2017/2018. Council approved the recommendation, authorizing the program to go ahead this January as scheduled. Under the I... While some folks look under the tree for Christmas surprises, others look under the letters of bingo for a bit of a Christmas boost. On Tuesday, Dec. 20, the Blyth Legion Ladies Auxiliary hosted a special Christmas bingo game at the Blyth and District Community Centre to give people a warm place to go and have fun. Shown calling the numbers is John Stewart while Ally Glousher, left, records what has been called. 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