HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2013-11-28, Page 22PAGE 22.THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2013.
Operation Christmas Child
collects over 1,300 shoeboxes
Leaving on a jet plane
Annette Davison, co-ordinator of the Operation Christmas
Child program at Huron Chapel Evangelical Missionary
Church in Auburn, is seen here in front of the 1,300
shoeboxes collected as part of the program. They will be
sent to a number of boys and girls in countries like Costa
Rica, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Guatemala, Guinea,
Guinea Bissau, Haiti, Ivory Coast, Nicaragua, Paraguay,
Senegal, Sierra Leone, Uruguay and Venezuela. (MarkRoyatf
photo)
Last Saturday it wasn't too
difficult to get in the Christmas
frame of mind when a blast of winter
hit the area. While the snow was
blowing outside... inside at Huron
Chapel Evangelical Missionary
Church, Christmas was in full swing
once again with Operation
Christmas Child.
Co-ordinator Annette Davison was
putting the finishing touches on the
1,300 shoeboxes collected from the
area. Each was filled with a well-
balanced variety of school supplies,
toys, hygiene products, along with a
personal note and photo from the
giver. Annette said this is her fifth
year helping and her first year as the
co-ordinator of Operation Christmas
Child at Huron Chapel. She, along
with 14 other volunteers, have
collected, sorted and packed away
the boxes which will be delivered
and cross all barriers of language,
culture, geography, politics to give
joy and hope to hurting children
around the world.
This year the shoeboxes collected
in Auburn will be distributed to
Council to work with budget
Continued from page 10
REACH's operational costs since the
centre is for the whole region, which
is an idea Lobb supported.
Meanwhile, Ginn said REACH
offers Central Huron a spot to offer
post -secondary education
programming that can be built upon.
"I am completely convinced that
there will be an educational centre in
Huron County," said Ginn. "It
changed Brantford. I think there's
huge potential for that. Do I think
the county will pay for it? No."
Ginn said there are at least two
other communities, Seaforth and
Goderich, that would also like to
house such a project.
"I think we've got the lead right
now, and I want to make sure we
keep that lead." Westerhout said
while he is not sure where education
programming is headed, it appears
clear that REACH's original
financial projections were overly
optimistic. "If we can keep that ask
going down on steady slide, I think
that's achievable," he said.
Barnim said perhaps it is time for
community input on the fate of
REACH since community
engagement was lacking when the
centre was built.
"Have a town hall meeting. I know
it won't be a pretty thing ... but the
facts are the facts," said Barnim.
"See how many people are really
interested."
The board chairman said
contentious public meetings could
negatively impact any possible
future partnerships.
"At some point, we're going to end
up with a revolt anyway because this
is not our money," said Barnim.
"People don't feel they have a say in
anything. Basically, we're the
banker. I think at some point we
have to engage the public on this."
Langan said there is no wiggle room
on the REACH budget without
reorganization. "I don't have any
more to offer on this budget," he
said.
REACH board member Jim
Bullock said while the ask is the
same, the spending is different. "It's
not the same budget, it's a very
different budget," he said, noting
costs are escalating.
The REACH board approved its
draft budget as presented while
council has yet to decide on whether
to approve the REACH budget.
Westerhout suggested holding
another meeting between council
and REACH in camera (behind
closed doors) to discuss a possible
reorganization or other strategies.
"I'll throw it out as food for
thought," said Westerhout.
Langan said the board is willing to
do anything within its powers to find
workable solutions to keep the
centre operating. Langan said
Metzger's suggestion to conduct a
study on REACH's impact on
economic development is worthy of
further review.
"There are always things we can
do better. There is no doubt about it,"
said REACH's executive director.
"We're going to have our up and
downs and bumps and we're going
to make our mistakes."
Dave Jewitt, Deputy -Mayor for
Central Huron, was the only council
member unable to attend the
meeting.
CNlgple
1+1
ST'OPI'I!RS
www.hc-cs.ca
Theft From Vehicles in Mitchell -West Perth
Perth County Crime Stoppers and Perth County OPP are asking for the public's
assistance in solving several thefts from unlocked vehicles during the over -night
hours of October 10th in the Town of Mitchell. On October 11th, Perth County
OPP Officers were dispatched to 9 different occurrences where victims reported
that their unlocked vehicles had been entered overnight. The vehicle entries
occurred on Montreal Street, Trafalgar Street, Waterloo Street, and St. Andrews.
Items stolen included: A wallet and its contents, a Blackberry cell phone, a Wii
gaming system with 6 games, a Tim Horton's gift card, and loose change. If you
have any information regarding this crime or any other crime, call Crime Stoppers
at 1-800-222-8477 or submit a tip online at www.hc-cs.ca. You could earn a cash
reward of up to $2000, you will never have to reveal your identity or testify in court.
And remember, Crime doesn't pay, but Crime Stoppers does!
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young boys and girls in Costa Rica,
El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea,
Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea Bissau,
Haiti, Ivory Coast, Nicaragua,
Paraguay, Senegal, Sierra Leone,
Uruguay and Venezuela. For most of
these children the shoebox will be
the first gift they have ever received.
When asked what made her want
to work with Operation Christmas
Child, Annette replied, "It is so easy
to make a difference in a child's life
this way. I have nephews and nieces
with so many toys to play with at
anytime but these children will
cherish the one or two toys they
receive in a shoebox for years to
come."
She was also excited to show me a
little colourful booklet that will be
offered to each child when culturally
appropriate called, "The Greatest
Gift" that explains the message of
salvation through Jesus Christ in the
child's own language. Once again
this year the shoeboxes will be
transported from Auburn to the
packing centre in Kitchener by
Envira-North Systems in Seaforth.
Thank you to all who participated
in making this a great Christmas for
some special children around the
world.
FROM AUBURN
See histories and
historic photographs
on the Huron History
section of our website
www. northhuron.on.ca
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