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Home My WebLink AboutHuron Expositor, 2009-04-08, Page 4...Si,'"s r Pale 4 Apriii 8, 2009 • The Huron Expositor As demands increase, food- bank ongoing help Opinion Proprietor and Publisher, Bowes Publishers Limited, 11 Main St., Seaforth, ON, NOK IWO While the trucks haven't yet been weighed (at least at press time Monday) and thebets not yet 'settled, rough estimates of the food collected for the Seaforth and District Food Bank last week totalled about $5,000, according to food bank chair Maureen Spittal. And, with a dramatic increase in demand recently, Spittal expects to go through the generous Easter donations in no .time. While 161 people visited the Seaforth food bank in February last year, Spittal says that number sky- rocketed to 260 in February this year and some of the new families are in "desperate situations." Last week's friendly bet between Seaforth Bak- ery owner Christine Behnke and Seaforth Foodland owner Steve Delchiaro that , the two could collect more donations than one another certainly brought some public attention to the cause. With bakery staff dancing on the sidewalk and hailing traffic on Main Street and with an open van parked' directly across from the entrance of the gro- cery store, plenty of shoppers were reminded to re- member the food bank. Difficult economic times, layoffs and plant closures are adding to the stress on the food bank and Spit- tal is seeing clients who are uncertain about how they're going to meet their mortgage payments. And, while the Seaforth community has always been very generous to the food bank, it's important to remember that those who use it receive only one week's worth of groceries for their families each month. With that limitation in mind, the London Food Bank has issued a challenge to the public to attempt to live for as long 'as possible on a typical list of food given out by a food bank. In . Seaforth, that would mean a list that would likely include four litres of milk, bread, margarine, a dozen eggs, hamburger, half a dozen soup cans, pasta and sauce, canned beans, potatoes and ap- ples. Even during a time of worldwide recession, many of us take for granted that we will be fed far more than the basics.. Such a voluntary exercise would go a long way to create gratitude for what we have and some com- passion for those who are doing their best to get by without any of the extras. Susan Hundertmark Newspaper Since 1860 Publisher - Dave Sykes ttorial and fullness Offices - 11 Main Street., Seaforth Telephone (519) 527-0240 Fax (519) 527-2858 Mailing Address - P.O. Box 69, Seaforth, ON, NOK 1WO Visit our home page at unoutseaforthhuronexpositoreom OUESECOR MEDIA "WE ACKNOWLEDGE THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA, THROUGH THE PUBLICATIONS SSISTANCE PROGRAM (PAP), TOWARD OUR MARLING COSTS." Canada The upside to winter is the local breeding ground for hockey playe When I woke up on Monday morning, looked out the win- dow and saw a fierce snow- storm outside, I'm sure I had the same ghastly reaction that the most of you had. It's hard to see anything posi- tive about a long and brutal winter. But, in an attempt to be optimistic, I can say that a cold Ontario winter is a fertile breeding ground' for hockey players. Recently, another:. former Seaforth :. Minor Hockey player joined a list of alumni who started in our small town and made it to -the. big league.- We've seen . :, hometown- heroes Dave McLI- wain and Boyd ,Devereaux help put .Seaforth on the map by making it to the National Hock- ey League. Now, a 22 -year-old kid from Varna has joined their ranks. Recently, ` the NHL's Nashville Predators called up Cal O'Reilly to throw on a yellow and blue jersey and hit the ice with the pros. In eight games, O'Reilly has scored three goals and earned two assists ,for five poets. He's• scored Nashville's lone :goal in each of their . last two games, *atgai4st Columbus and Chicago. __ • - It's `clear_ he's off to a good start in the -pros. If that wasn't enough to Make his -parents Brian and Bonnie proud, their other son -is heading in the same direction. Eighteen -year-old Ryan O'Reilly : *as cur- rent y recruited by team Canada's under -18 squad to, play in the world junior tournament in Fargo, North Dakota. . - When I spoke with the O'Reilly boys' father Brian on the phone last week, -I was surprised, at what he told me. Instead of bragging about his sons' skills on the ice, he kept steering the conversation to- wards something he considered much more important than their performance. on the ice. "I'm proud of them and I think they'll achieve, but their compassion and kindness and the way they treat others . well, for -me, that's the success," he said. "Doing well is not the big deal. Many players can make the NHL if they work hard eno !h, but it's the people they -are, and that they . e the time to sign autographs for kids and do things for them, that's the stuff that melts my heart." I guess I was surprised because Brian didn't. sound anything like a coach. He sounded like a parent. As a high-performance coach, Brian has trav- eled the world working with teams and using mental training to: help them improve I was smprised when he told me he's met quite a few NHL players who are, : well... (ex- pletive deleted). It's as if generosity and kindness are as beneficial to success in professional sports as phYsical conditioning, speed and determina- tion. It's a concept that'sworked for the O'Reilly brothers and they're giving former Seaforth Minor Hockey players a good name = in the NHL. Hey Ron, have you ever' actually read the Bible? -Dat't be stupid. You can't just A the Bible, Simple lay people like ourselves can't begin to fathom the_depth and intricate lessons that the Bible represents. There are people who spend their entire lives just trying to understand it. You'd have to study it for years to grasp the deep meanings and theological concepts locked within it. It's very complicated. by David Lacey Do, unto others as you would have others do unto you.".. seems pretty straight forward to me. LJ$?HEI1R! SUBSCRIPTION RATES: LOCAL - 38.05 a year, in advance, plus G.S.T. SENIORS: - 36.14 a year, In advance, plus G.S.T. Foreign: 38.05 a year in advance, plus $195.00 postage, plus G.S.T. U.S.A.: 38;05 a year in advance, plus $99.84 postage, plus G.S.T. Published weekly by Sun Media at 11 Main St., Seaforth. Advertising is accept- ed on condition that in the event of a typographical error, the advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allowance for signa- ture, will not be charged, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. In the event of a typographical error, advertising goods or services at a wrong price, goods or services may not be sold. Advertising is merely an offer to sell and may be withdrawn at any time. The Huron Expositor is not responsible for the loss or damage of unsolicited manuscripts, photos or other materials used for reproduction purposes. PUBLICATION MAIL AGREEMENT 40064683 • PAP REGISTRATION NO. 7605 For any non deliveries or delivery concerns please call 519-527-0240. IRON MEDIA • RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO: Circulation Department, P.O. Box 69, Seaforth, ON., NOK 1 WO • Susan Hundertmar Editor `' seaforthnRws@bowesnet.com Dan Schwab Reporter *r:, seatortheditoriql@bou3esize .com .� iitt�� ..��d MaxwellBickford Advertising Rep. seaforthods@bowesnet.com rentber of the Canadian Community Newspaper Association • thy► Ontario Community Newspapers Association Bernie Pugh Advertising/ Office sea f orth . of cc@wesnet. cont Dianne McGrath Front Office seaforthelossi f ieds@hrneesnct.eom