Huron Expositor, 2006-12-20, Page 7News
mean
The Huron Expositor • December 20, 2006 Page 7
Less `stuff,' more giving brings some
meaning back into Christmas season
From Page 1
two to 24. They all get together at
Christmas every year - this year in
Seaforth. - and for the past three
years, the donation to World Vision
is theironly gift (except for a choco-
late letter) from their Seaforth
grandparents Nel and her husband
Gerrit.
"When we were together, I told
them all about it and they agreed,"
says. Bowen.. "They get lots of pre-
sents but my gift makes them more
knowledgeable about what's going
on in poor countries."
The grandchildren all get a card
from World Vision telling them
about the donation in their names
and the card is proudly displayed
on the fridge.
"Their parents say they (the
grandchildren) show the picture to
others who come into their houses,
talking about what their Oma did,"
says Boven.
Boven's daughter Elizabeth Van
Den Assen, of Watford, says she's
glad her grandchildren are getting
the donations as gifts.
"We don't need more stuff in the
house and this helps them stretch
themselves and think of others. It's
not that we're against presents but
sometimes Christmas becomes too
much about ourselves," she says.
Boven says her Christmas budget
is the same as ever, even with the
gifts going around the world.
"Last year, we stocked a medical
clinic and this year, I got them a
couple of turkeys, a beekeeping kit,
soccer balls and some school uni-
forms. I don't spend anymore than
than I would spend on them usual-
ly," she says.
As an "Oma" with Dutch heritage,
Boven says she now has a multicul-
tural family since her children have
married partners with different cul-
tural heritages so the international
donations make sense to her.
Boven says she also donates to
the Canadian Blind Mission
International, buying water pumps
and other health related services in
third world countries.
"They're both very close to my
heart but because I have some trou-
ble with my eyes, the CBMI really
speaks to me," she says.
"I feel good about this. Whenou
give a little toy,y
you usually never
see the toy again but this returns
some of the meaning of Christmas.
Sometimes in North America, we
lose sight of the meaning of
Christmas altogether," says Boven.
Leslie Ash, of Seaforth, says- she
began donating to World Vision
after sponsoring an eight-year-old
girl from Bangladesh after her
teenage son Thomas was killed in a
car accident. Then, when the orga-
nization's Christmas catalogue
arrived in the mail, she was thrilled
by the idea of buying gifts for her
Joshua, Mandee and Chantelle Van Den Assen, of Watford, look through a World
Vision Christmas catalogue with their Oma, Nel Boven, of Seaforth.
own family to benefit third world
families. -
"I still wanted to buy a gift for
Thomas but he doesn't need any-
thing anymore so I purchased some-
thing in his memory. I'm not ignor-
ing Canadians in need but people
in the third world are so much
worse off," she says.
Ash has bought her husband
Mike's parents a rooster and two
hens and her mother four seed
packages, tools and instructions on
farming for four families from an
aid worker.
"This is the true spirit of
Christmas - to reach out and help
someone who's living on a really
needy level. If everyone who could
afford it did this, we could make a
Ashstatement in the world," says
She adds that going through the
catalogue and imagining how many
families can be empowered by the
gifts of animals that can feed them
and even become the start of a fami-
ly business, Ash is having fun.
"You should see the looks on peo-
ple's faces when I tell them I got my
mother-in-law two hens and a roost-
er. It's an opportunity to have a
good conversation," she says.
"And, that gift is teaching sur-
vival skills and a trade. Nobody
wants to be dependent on someone
else. Everyone feels better if they
can take care of themselves," says
Ash.
Ash expects her family members
to be happy with their unusual gifts
this year and plans to sell them on
the idea of next year going together
to buy a $600 cow.
"I hope we can start a trend with
my family. We get ' so much stuff,"
she says.
"We all have to look aftereach
other. It's a tough world out there."
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•
THE
MUNICIPALITY
OF HURON EAST
NOTICE
The municipal office
WILL BE CLOSED:'
DECEMBER
27h TO 29Th, 2006
The First Regular Council
Meeting in 2007 is scheduled
for January 9th, 2007.
Council and Staff hope you enjoy the
Festive Season & wish everyone a
Healthy & Prosperous New Year!
112
PriceLA. _A04
\i
ED
FALL & WINTER
FASH
Wednesday, Dec. 27, 9-6 pm
Sale continues to Saturday, Dec. 30
ALL SALES FINAL
Revue ea ereiteut9em arc Snot, nut
Items excluded from this sale are:
items presently on sale, jewellery, lingerie & French Dressing jeans
y amain Cady
43 Albert St., Clinton 482-7872