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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2009-12-02, Page 12DeCorte Massage Therapy Carla L. DeCorte, RMT Registered Massage Therapist NEW HOME OFFICE 132 Sills Street Call for appointment Seaforth 519-600-1011 c.decorte@live.com Gift Certificates available for Christmas G O D E R I C H P L A C E RETIREMENT RENTAL REWARDS LIMITED TIME OFFER! $200.00 I l I ISl FART It • 6 lJnits,Only • Studios and One Bedrooms RESL '/Aiicr. Pf )1'IRLt) R\ MA. 31/09 Goderich Place RETIREMENT RESIDENCE Page 12 The Huron Expositor • December 2, 2009 News Food banks working to help th Cheryl Heath Thanks to a combination of an ail- ing economy and higher than usual unemployment rates in the region, three food banks are hoping those who can will be willing to lend a hand to those who are struggling to make ends meet this Christmas. Capt. Krista Andrews, of The Salvation Army, reports while the Christmas Kettle Campaign is under way, the fundraising goal is notably higher at $42,000 for the Goderich and Clinton region, up five times over the $9,000 goal in 2004. The reason? Soaring unemploy- ment rates and the struggles being faced by those able to seek new jobs at rates of pay considerably lower than what they once enjoyed. As it stands, says Andrews, the $42,000 will be needed to cover costs for emergency situations and to pur- chase items for the food bank that are not available as needed through 2010. And though the final numbers are not in for how many area families will be receiving a Salvation Army Christmas Hamper this year, An- drews says preliminary indications are the figure will be high. "We're certainly see an increase in our numbers from last year," she says, noting calls started corning in last week and are expected to con- tinue through the Dec. 16 'deadline. While the St. Vincent de Paul does things in a different way, it is none- theless reporting the same sorts of stories being heard by the Salvation Army's legion of volunteers. Family Services Coordinator Mary Barry says the society's motto is sim- ple: "We don't turn anybody away no matter who they are:" And, instead of focusing on Christ- mas fundraising campaigns, the So- ciety's volunteer corps works at help- ing individuals in need of something a little different. Indeed, notes Barry, the Society delivers a range of services that in- clude a daily soup kitchen in God- erich that serves up to 120 people at a session, rent and energy 'assis- tance programs, and even donations of health-care aids like wheelchairs and eye glasses. The Society is also the last local group to host an annual free Christ- mas dinner, for up to 250 people, with RETIREMENT ,;-r 15?.6 (57~eafeei g INDEPENDENT SENIOR LIVING • Full range of suites available • Flecibk service & health care packages • Housekeeping and laundry • Beautiful dining room serving 3 meals daily • Professionally trained health care team on duty 24 hours a day • In -House Doctor • Monthly foot care • 24/7 security and emergency response • Year-round recreational and social events • On-site hair salon • Elevator and underground parking • Public Transit available VISIT FOR REWARDING LIF ;STrYLE! 30 Balvina Drive East, Goderich CALL TO BOOK YOUR NO OBLIGATION TOUR 519-524-4243 www.goderichplace.com • ASK SALES REP It1' `rAl�.' i kiino s Pridesairel.,iy Blake St. E. ose struggling this Christmas the aid of the Knights of Columbus. The emphasis, notes Barry, is on meeting the community's needs year round and as it stands, "We've never been busier." Barry says that while in past years the Society has seen two or three new families a month, they are see- ing two or three new families a week these days. And, says Barry, the Society is see- ing an increase in the number of area residents whose employment insurance has run out and left them to rely on Ontario Works, which only allots for a maximum payment of about $520 a month for a single per- son. "Those are the really heartbreak- ing stories," says Barry, noting there is still a level of denial in some people that don't see they can't continue to live on their own after years of suc- cessfully managing to do so. Barry notes the most people the So- ciety has ever seen in a month took place this year with 211 individuals but she says it is looking like Novem- ber will exceed the record. "People just can't make it any more," she says. And while the Society will continue with its practice of anonymously do- nating hampers to families and indi- viduals whose names are submitted by donors, it will focus its efforts on ensuring a merry Christmas to those often overlooked by other groups in- cluding seniors, single people and Community Living clients. "We pitch in everywhere we can," says Barry, not- ing the Society's operating budget hails from the sale of goods at its all - volunteer oper- ated store in God- erich, which has been serving the region since 1983. "A faith sys- tem is what is get- ting us through," she says. Shelley Kaastra, spokeswoman for the Clinton -based Friends of the Community Food Bank, says while volunteers are not too worried about their stock for Christmas, they are casting a weary eye to the New Year. "It's January we're worried about," she says, noting if preliminary statis- tics are any indication, the food bank will see an increase in the number of people seeking support after Christ- mastime. Kaastra notes one of the grim stats is the number of people the food bank saw come through the doors in September since people are usu- ally in most need of aid in the winter months due to the demands of meet- ing high utility and home -heating costs. She reports the Friends' group, like the others, is also seeing a rising need for assistance from the working class that are no longer able to meet expenses and cover food costs. "Everything is going up and the wages aren't going up to meet the costs," says Kaastra. She adds that while the Friends' group doesn't give away hampers at Christmas, since the Salvation Army and Huron County Christmas Bureau provides those services, it is unique in that users are allowed to access the food bank as much as is needed. One piece of good news for all of the region's food banks is the Huron County Food Bank Distribution Cen- tre is now up and running. The Exeter -based warehouse, which was made possible through a number of community stakeholders, allows for the storage of large-scale and perishable food donations. Kaastra notes the site came in espe- cially handy earlier this year when a large donation of potatoes was made to the Friends' group.