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Times-Advocate, 1987-12-02, Page 8r(iye 0 Mmes-Mavocate, uecemoer 1, I'M/ Exeter depot of Christmas Bureau opens December 7 The Exeter Christmas Bureau will be open from December 7 to 11 to give local citizens a chance to make someone else's Christmas more merry and bright than it would be without their generosity. The Exeter Bureau, one of five depots in Huron County, will use the facilities and volunteers of the Exeter Pentecostal Tabernacle for the second year. Donations may be dropped off from Monday December 7 to Friday, December 11 between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 4:(X) p.m. daily. Last year 300 families, including 627 children, were served by the Iluron County Burcau. Although this year's list is not yet complete, volunteer coordinator Pauline Lin- gard expects the number of referrals will be about the same. The five depots in the county are open for the first week to receive donations, and the following week clients on the list of the Family and Children's Services of Huron Coun- ty come in to do their Christmas shopping. "And that is what they do", ex- plains Jean Sharp, who is managing the Exeter Christmas Burcau for the second time. A mother, for example, may pick out a toy truck or a construc- tion set for a four-year-old daughter who has no interest in dolls. This also give the mother the satisfaction of personally selecting gifts she knows will please that particular child. Every child under 16 receives two pairs of mitts, a new article of clothing, and a new toy. Clients may also pick-up items among the good used clothing and toys that have been donated, and also receive a food hamper made up from from the selection of food and other household items that have been brought in. Jean Sharp has some suggestions, based on last year's experience when some articles such as new clothing were in short supply. "Think of your own child or grandchild as the recipient, and buy accordingly. Something the child can wear to school after the holidays is always appreciated", Sharp said. "For sanitary reasons, we arc not so keen on used stuffed toys", she add- ed. Other suggestions are items like peanut butter, canned juices and jams, boxes of cereal, packages of cookies, and non -edible but essen- tial hJusehold staples. "Can you imagine what it would be like not to have soap or toilet paper in the house?" Sharp asked. Good used toys may be dropped off at Exeter banks, or at any of the local schools. Both Lingard and Sharp remarked on the remarkable community spirit engendered by the Christmas Bu- reau. Every year the canning facto- ry donates cases of its products. Many local businesses'and compa- nies give to the Bureau instead of exchanging gifts among their staffs. All donations brought to White Gift Sunday at arca churches arc passed on to the Burcau. Many ser- vice organizations give money. "The United Church congregation really outdid themselves. We had to make two trips to pick up all they had collected", Sharp said. Lingard remembers being called to SHDHS last year to accept what the students had collected. "That was a beautiful example of sensitivity and dignity. No-one knows who is giving and who might be receiving. There was a gentle sense of sharing", she said. Sensitivity and confidentiality are the two key attributes in the opera- tion of the Christmas Bureaus. "We are all here together. Some- times some of us are down, and sornetimes some of us are up. Thcrc but for the grace of God go I. Helping others makes the differ- ence", Lingard commented. Jean Sharp agrees wholeheartedly. She has seen both sides. A num- her of years ago her husband, a highly skilled professional, sudden- ly lost the job which had brought him to Exeter. "But it's not a one-way street", Sharp pointed out. "To see the beaming look on the face of some- one who comes in and says she doesn't need the food hamper this year, but will take the milts makes me happy too." On location or Studio Bart DeVries"° PHOTOGRAPHY (OMMERCIAL - WEDDINGS - PORTRAITS - GROUPS d PUBLICITY telephone 215.1298 - 117 Thames Rd., East, Exeter, Ont. Cheques can be sent to Christmas vices, 46 Gloucester Terrace, Gode- Burcau, Family and Children's Scr- rich, N7A 1W7. Family and Children's Services of Huron County Requests Your Support for the HURON COUNTY CHRISTMAS BUREAU 1987 Donations of Toys, Games, Gifts and Clothing can be left at your local centre: LOCATION: DATE: Exeter Pentecostal Tabernacle Main St. South, Exeter December 7 to December 11 TIME: Monday to Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. LOCAL MANAGERS: Mrs. Jean Sharp Mrs. Dorothy Prouty Exeter Pentecostal Tabernacle Please direct financial contributions to: FAMILY and CHILDREN'S SERVICES OF HURON COUNTY, 46 Gloucester Terrace, Goderic h, Ontario. N7A 1WZ Reg. No. 0184-192-01-05 SAVE AT GERRARD'S Gerrard's Have FOR THE CHRISTMAS BUREAU - Lioness Liz Bell (right) presents a cheque and some socks on behalf of the Exeter Lioness Club to Pauline Lingard, Volunteer coordinator of the Huron County Christmas Bureau, and Jean Sharp, manager of the Exeter depot which will be held this year in the Exeter Pentecostal Tabernacle. Huronia Choir concert That choral music -making still holds an attraction is evidenced by the ever-growing membership of the New Huronia Singers. This group now has 65 members who travel every Monday evening from such places as Hensall, Kirkton, Bayfield and even London to meet for rehear- sal at Exctcr United Church. The Ncw Huronia Singers arc a Community choir in the true sense of the word. Members of religious faiths that elsewhere in the world fight each other to death sit down together and sing in peaceful harmo- ny. In keeping with its community orientation, the Ncw Huronia Sing- ers have in the short span of their existence, bccn actively involved in many community, affairs. Many people of the greater Exeter commu- nity have had the pleasure of listen- ing to the singers in red, white and black. The men, despite pastoral ex- hortations to desist, have added bow -tics to their ensemble. Lately the Singers and Our Kids (well -remembered from last Christ- mas) have bccn very busy preparing for their second annual Christmas conccrt.Dircctor Susan Graham, ac- companist Julie Eastcrbrook (and on occasion Ralph Topp) have pooled their talents to mould a mass (mess?) of jumbled notes into a polished performance. The results will speak for themselves on Sat day December 5 and Sunday Decem- ber 6 in Trivitt Memorial Church. This year's concert will again fea- ture artists from our own communi- ty. On the program is Christmas music old and new, familiar and less well-known. There is a nicc variety of adult and children's choirs as well as instrumental music. Add to this the pastoral setting of beautiful Tri - vitt Memorial Church and you have the ingredients of a jaryous event that you will not Want to miss. (Men, Women,Boys & Girls) All ralef fuAlROV 10 chant)! -1h0ul nouc! SNORT MI 45/ a1W.000 or more. Term 30.59 days. ON YOUR MONEY 55.000.925.000 525 000.150.000. Term 30.59 days Term 30-S9 days. STANDARD ,��►' TRUST 386 MAIN ST. S.. EXETER 235-1060 :'eTx Ca'ala()epos t'u,,,a'ceCoapmat'on .'41: �.L,iiC'�.,�.';;e,.L'!tt�...�'•'.•S•�;w"y�iC�••��•�i�•�I�"•L�Ji�•�ii TRADITION TREAT g See the sparkle in the children's eyes when they see p: this gingerbread house. a : Open Mon. - Fri. Until 9 p.m. now to Christmas THAT'S RIGHT! ALL FASHION MERCHANDISE IN ALL DEPTS. HAS BEEN REDUCED 20% IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS SAVINGS I✓ Layaways 7 Gift Certificates Order today ti For Gift giving or for your own family treat t3: Or Purchase the kit and decorate to your liking FERGUSON APIARIES• 1 We're located on HWY. 84 BETWEEN HENSALL AND ZURICH We're Open Mon. -Sat. 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Closed Sunday 236-4979 *la the sea.io..t3Save GERRARD'S FASHION FAMILY CLOTHING EXETER MAIN ST. 235-2162 SAVE AT GERRARD'S