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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1986-05-07, Page 1Missions help Goderich needy People in major cities across Canada line up daily at food banks where free food is distributed to those who would otherwise go hungry. Some have no money for food because they pay more than half their ear- nings for accommodation while others who are unemployed, receiving ' social assistance or living on fixed incomes, no 'natter how carefully they budget, they run out of money before the next cheque arrives. -Goderich is a prosperous town and many may assume there is no poverty in this community. The volunteers working at the missions and thrift shops in town however, say there are needy people in Goderich who require their help. The Salvation Army is currently concha: - Ong their Red Shield Appeal and while there is a real response to the appeal and people from the community are very generous, many do not realize there are people in Goderich and the surrounding area, who really struggle from month to month to make ends meet, says Salvation Army Captain Wendy Johnstone. The Army operates a thrift store on Hamilton Street where donations of clothing, odd household items, toys, children's items and small furnishings are sold or given away if the customer canhit afford the prices. Donations to the Army's Family Ser- vices account are used to -provide Christmas gifts for children and *for food vouchers. Donations to the Red Shield Ap- peal fund the Army's c immunity work locally and nationally ' nd cover ad- ministration costs. Captain Johnstone says the Army's thrift store acts as touchstone in the com- munity. Often people drop by just to talk with the store volunteer and -several people visit each day the store is open. Goderich Starting next month a client at Stncoast Industries will begin working in the store as a volunteer through a community in- tegration program. The Salvation Army thrift store is open Monday and Tuesday from 10 - 4 and Thursday through Saturday from 10 - 4. The St. Vincent de Paul Society has been operating a mission out of the former Catholic convent for the past. three years. Last year they assisted 52 people in addi- tion to the scores who bought clothing from the mission store. Already this year they have assisted 16 people who did not have money for groceries or needed furnishings and bed linens including a family who was burned out of their home. Society volunteers remain anonymous because it is not their intention to seek reward fortheir work. At present there are nine volt4nteers including a man. who works diligently -in the mission store zind three on the jail committee who work as volunteers at the Bluewater Centre. The society was formed because parishoners at St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church saw a need in the corrnrnwrity for an organization to help people in need. The Society has assisted families where the sole supporter of the family has been in- jured or is out of work or cannot work because of illness. They have assisted single mothers, families on social assistance and the elderly on pensions. During the strike at the Domtar Mine last year, the- Society also helped several families whose sole supporter was on strike. The Society provides clothing for sale al the mission store and will assist people in setting up housekeeping by providing fur- niture, bedding and household essentials. All of these items arc donated by people Turn to page 2 138 YEAR - 19 GODERICH, ONTARIO, WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 1986 60 CENTS PER COPY Transition house has successful first year IW 'HARON DiET'/. l'hirty fisc women and 4:3 of their children resided for varying periods.:,.of time: at Huron ('ounly's transition horse for ha!- cred women front .lune 20 last year t'ol'l 'Mardi 31 this year, executive director June Taylor told the annual meeting of Survival Through Friendship 11 •tis& of Huron ('aunty Inc., April 30. The women, from all areas of the rl,wtt \ . \vcrc referred by Family and Children's Set vices, .the _Huron Centre 'for .Children and Youth, various Police Department throughout the count y. by friends, lawyers <uul doctors. \Vounen aiul their children have received professional conselling from Family and Children's Services, from t he Huron Ceti - .1 re for Childr(ai and Youth, and some have participated in play therapy at the ilon (stead Group Home. Some weer referred to the London ndon Access ('tinier. Five clergy and priests have met with tf ,5i iiuf siuiilcrs Fri the louse "siiiih si nn making several visits to ilio same wometl. Programs provided for in -House clients and former clients include consultation with 0 health nurse,' life skill sessions in - eluding general low dist meal planning and budget assistance, baking . sewing; bread making, quilling, garden plar.IInic and plant care. Clients have been guests at live theatre, private 'Ionics for dinner and for drives 111 i!ie area on Sunday afternoons. Children have been to live theatre, PiFlka Dot Dul,r 011(1 Mr. Dross Up, with the tickets being donated. Follow turf las been on request wit11,1)st of the clients continuing to keep hi touch with the staff whenever Ihcy feel down. They arc invited to see videos 'which at - Turn to page 3 The Kinette Club of Goderich has been an active participant in the fight against Cystic Fibrosis and Saturday members of the service group were out in force dressed as clowns and selling balloons to raise money for research. Fifteen -month-old Jamie Straughan of St. Catharines was more than pleased to get a balloon and meet three clowns on The Square Saturday morning. The clowns are Michelle Glenn and Kelly and Cathy Wade. (photo by Dave Sykes) Drama student makes financial appeal BY SUSAN HUNDERTMARK Though she's leaving for one of the world's most prestigious theatre schools in London, England tomorrow (Thursday, May 8), .Jennifer Gowanlock is making a last plea for financial help from the com- munity, of Goderich. Working diligently at fundraising since February by seeking employment at various odd jobs and writing to service clubs, foundations and corporations, Jen- nifer had only managed to collect two donations a week"ago. One donation was $50 from the Lioness Club and the other was $5,000 from the Sul- ly Foundation. But, that was less than halfway to the $11,000 tuition she needs for school. The only foreign student of 257 hopefuls, Jennifer is one of six students accepted at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art ( RADA) in the stage management course. She says she knew it would be difficult to raise the necessary funds but she didn't know how difficult it would be. In desperation, she recently sent letters to Mila Mulroney, Maureen McTeer and Shelley Peterson. Maureen McTeer came through with a donation of $7000. "That will pay for my tuition and my plane fare but I still have no money for liv- ing expenses for the next two years. But, that's not going to defeat me. I've paid my ticket and Fm, going," she says. Though Mila Mulroney phoned her, she told Jennifer there was nothing available in the government to help her out. She could only suggest contacting Rotary Club International which Jennifer had already done with no luck. Shelley Peterson could offer no help either. "I wrote the politicians' wh es because I thought I'd have no chance getting through to their husbands. Also, Shelley`Peterson °is an actress and I thought she'd be sym- pathetic to my cause," she says. Maureen McTeer, whom Jennifer says she admires very much, talked to her on the phone for 20 minutes. Since McTeer is also from a large family, put herself through university with help from her community and is a patron of the arts, she told Jennifer she'wanted a chance to help. "She told me she's been fighting to have the Famous People Players, a black light theatre performed by developmentally handicapped people, subsidized by the government for international tours. We talked about the sad situation of the arts in Canada," says Jennifer. The less than enthusiastic response by the community of Goderich to Jennifer's request for donations has mad Jennifer sympathetic to artists who5 tlnust leave Canada to find support. "I think my situation is an example of the struggle artists have in Canada. I have always said I would never leave Canada to practise my art but Canada isn't backing me up," she says. . "The huge problem with Canadian arts is that Canadians 'don't have an identity. It's repeated again and again in our literature, rntt`sic, dance and theatre. We have Americans and Russians teach us ballet,' the British teach us theatre and Bach and Beethoven teach us music," she says. Jennifer is frustrated by the fact that many area people attend Stratford Theatre and pay the salary of British director John Neville, but do not support her education when she hopes tb return home and contribute to Canada's cultural and artistic growth. "In a recent story about the Royal Turn to page 2 County will investigate homes for the aged Huron County council has establlsnea an ad hoc committee to investigate and report back to the council on the financing and services of homes for the aged. The con-, mittee will' compare municipally run establishments (such as Huronview) with those owned aid operated privately or by charitable organizations.; This decision was made at the Apr. 29 council meeting, on the recommendation of the county Dunt 'executive committee where "'it was suggested by Zurich Reeve Robert Fisher, chairman of " social services committee. Pisherpresented a long list of questions on the subject, as a starting point for the 9 study. The basic premise is that privately run homes must and do operate more effi- ciently, also with less government funding. Do they offer the same quality and level of services as Huronview does? Reeve Fisher and the other members of the executive committee say they're Gonfi-1 dent that the study will provide facts where there are only speculative opinions , available at present. The motion passed With some controver- sy. Stanley Township Reeve Clarence Rau and McKillop To*nship Reeve Marie Hicknell questioned the necessity of such an in-house study while the majority of members felt that it would .be useful, As Turnberry Township -Reeve Brian McBurney said, "At least it would get a lot of questions answered": The objecting councillors regarded the comparative investigation and research as an implied, criticism of the operation' and services of Huronview. Such intentions were denied by Hay Township' Reeve Lionel Wilder, chairman of the planning and development committee, who assured the council that no member of the ex- ecutive committee felt therewas anything n g wrong with Huronview. He said a study would be a positive way of finding out what could be done on different levels, With dif- ferent methods. Speaking in favor of the study, Huliett 1 1, Township Reeve Thomas Cunningham pointed out that the study might indeed conclude "that Huronview is best"; adding that "it never hurts to look." , In a recorded vote the recommended motion was carried by 18 votes in favor and eight opposed; six council members were absent from the session. The members of the newly formed com- mittee are: Reeve J.R. 'tc 'son (West Wawanosh Township), .uric Reeve Robert Town of Ex er Reeve W.L.1 Mickle, and Warden Leona Armstrong (Reeve of Grey Township). Their report will be presented to county council at a later date. Carnation Day helps to fund MS Society Many groups and organizations rely on public financial support to fund research programs and humanitarian projects. This week, the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada will hold its annual Carnation Day to raise funds for MS research. Members of the local committee will sell carnations at various locations around town Saturday, May 10 and donations will be used to support medical research and to service programs that assist people who have the crippling disease. Also, beginning Monday, May 12, and continuing all week, volunteers will be canvassing on behalf of the Canadian Red Cross. The national organization is respon- sible for. the blood program, ensuring that a constant supply is available to all hospitals. The Society also provides home health care and lends sickroom equipment. Both of the above mentioned societies are dependent upon the people they serve and contributions help to sustain and aug- ment their ongoing research and assistance programs. Sound of Goderich '86 set to go One of the highlights of the arrival 'of Spring is the presentation of the annual Sound of Goderich concert. And the 1986 edition of the concert pro- mises to be entertaining while featuring local talent in many forms. The concert will be held at Knox Presbyterian Church, Monday, May 12 at 8 p.m. and will feature the sounds of The Laketown Band, the Goderich Har- bouraires and the MacKay Choristers. Ad- mission is $3 and tickets are available from group members or at the door Demands on social services decrease Huron County Social Services Ad- ministrator, J. A. MacKinnon, brought good news when he presented his depart- ment's 1985 facts and figures to county council at the Apr. 29 meeting. Last year, the department spent $168,935.21 under its budget. While the total budget was $1,076,536, the expenditures amounted to $907,600.79. The county's estimated share of this budget was $281,27:3 but as $237,670;34 of the. county money was actually spent, this resulted in an iinder-expenditure of $44,202.66 in the county cost. MacKinnon reported that requests for various levels of welfare assistance decreased in Huron County in 1985 by 5.62 per cent, the caseload by 7:22 per cent and the number of beneficiaries by 7.:34 per cent. It was the second straight year that the demand on his department's services decreased. • The resort explains, "Our experience in 1985 indicates that the demand for seasonal workers was strong, resulting in persons being employed for longer periods and qualifying for U.I.C. benefits, thereby reducing the demand on our _- The 1986 caseload is expected to remain fairly constant with the 1985 levels. Be a winner! .You could, -b -e a winner! Read the classifieds every week during April, May and June. Your name may he buried in a classified ad and you could be the winner of a nice prize from one of our participating merchants. iNGIDE THE SIGNAL -STAR Balloon Day held The Kinette Club of Goderich sponsored its annual Balloon Day in aid of Cystic Fibrosis Saturday that culminated with the launching of hundreds of helium -filled balloons in Courthouse Park. A pictureoof that launch appears in the Community section. Alcohol and you Abuse of both alcohol and drugs is one of the nvstsalient issues of the time. Signal - Star reporter Susan- Hundertmark talked with alcoholics about the problem and their experiences are chronicled in stories appearing on the Community front. A plan for fish The sport season is in tr•ansrtt n but soon hundreds of people will be inv lved in fastball and slowpitch leagues. This week the sports pages feature Huron -Perth soc- cer action and an open house detailing the Ministry of Natural Resources' Strategic Fisheries Maria-ement,Plan.