Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1999-12-15, Page 2141 JCE CREAM cl EJ 1 aade,uI e 002m ¢serfs -6640 1.888--82047775 EIRSUREIEI Crossroads BEST E.I.C. RATES Your Investment ATMS 1 year 5.45% S year 6.4% s% CASHAstE oroseare. Exeter 235-3368 Exeter Times Advocate Wednesday, December 15, 1999 21 The Christmas Bureau: helping families for over 40 years The Exeter Lions were just one of -many organizations to donate to the Christmas Bureau, which gave packages of food; clothes and toys to needy families this week-. Pictured from left are Lions president John Hanson with a $2,000 cheque to the Christmas bureau, Exeter Christmas Bureau organizer Audrey MacGregor and Lions zone chairman Cliff Marsden. (photo/Scott Nixon) Beth -Ann Hern, alp OAC student at South Huron District High Schdol, stands among the 370 gifts students at the school donated towards the Christmas Bureau. (photo/Scott Nixon) By Scott Nixon TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF EXETER— Christmas is in the air and area residents have added to that feeling by once again donating gifts and food to the Huron County Christmas Bureau. The bureau, with locations at the Exeter United Church, Seaforth, Clinton, Wingham and Goderich, began distribut- ing goods to needy families this Monday and will finish for the season on Thursday. And according to the Exeter. bureau's organizer Audrey MacGregor, it's been another successful year. MacGregor and about 20 volunteers at the United Church have been busily accepting and sorting the bureau dona- tions and MacGregor said she's been impressed with the enthusiasm people bring to the effort. While there is no goal each year for col- lection, MacGregor said this year's cam- paign has gone well and she expects over 100 families, including 237 children, will receive assistance from the Exeter branch. County -wide, over 1,000 chil- dren benefitted from the . Huron County Christmas Bureau last year. In addition to serving families in Exeter, the Exeter bureau helps families from Grand Bend, Hensall, Zurich, Crediton, Centralia and Kirkton-Woodham. The Christmas Bureau in Exeter changes locations every other year. As this is the second year for the United Church's involvement, the bureau will move to a different church next year. As MacGregor explains, volunteering for the bureau is a learning process. "The first year you learn, the next year you try to do a better job," she says with a smile. And for MacGregor the hard work is worth it. "It's the most rewarding thing I've ever done," she said, explaining that she first worked with the bureau 10 years ago when it was also at the United Church. Among the many groups raising money, food and gifts for the Christmas Bureau is the Student Impact group at South Huron District High School. While there are only a few students in she group this year, teacher and Student Impact supervisor Dave MacLeod said the group works on projects such as the Christmas Bureau, the shoebox drive which saw gifts and supplies sent to chil- dren in Central America, and the 30 - hour famine. South Huron's participation in the Christmas Bureau involves a week-long campaign that wrapped up last Friday. While donations were slow at first, stu- dents rallied on the final day and ended up donating 370 gifts and $30 in Canadian Tire money, which the school was to use to buy more gifts for the bureau. The school's goal was for 400 gifts but Student Impact leader Beth -Ann Hern said the shortfall may have been due to the fact that the shoebox cam- paign was just held last month. Hern said the project is a good one for students because it teaches them what " Christmas is all about and shows them there are people in. the community who need help. MacLeod agrees, saying he hopes students get the -message about the importance of helping people. He added that while many people may see teenagers as self-centred, many students are empathetic and want to help. Hern, 18, said she got involved because she wants to give back to the community and she believes any good deeds you do will come back to you eventually. In order to persuade some students to donate to the bureau, students were able to get out of class early to watch a volley- ball or hockey game in exchange for a donation. The Huron County Christmas Bureau is organized by. the Children's Aid Society of Huron County and is confidential. MacGregor said families in need visit the bureau for 15 minutes and choose from the toys and clothes. They are also given grocery bags stocked according to the size of the family. Hensall Public School collected gifts for the Huron County Christmas Bureau through an Angel Tree projectWhen students brought in a gift, their -Same was placed on the school's Christmas tree. Exeter Christmas Bureau co-chair Karen Von Damm (left) and volunteer Casey Zeehuisen picked up the donations Friday morning with the help of Mandy Mathonia, Danielle Ritchie, Katie Jinks and Lindsay Allen. (photo/Fete Monk)