The Times Advocate, 2006-12-06, Page 44
Times—Advocate
Wednesday, December 6, 2006
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TIMES ADVOCATE
Editorial Opinion
PUBLICATIONS MAIL REGISTRATION NUMBER 07511
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Assistance Program (PAP), toward our mailing costs.
Canada Jim Beckett — Publisher
Deb Lord — Production Manager
Scott Nixon — Editor
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Exeter, Ontario NOM 1S6 • 519-235-1331
Peter Winkler -General Manager, Southwestern Ontario Division
EDITORIAL
"Be the change"
this Christmas
Dec. 5 was celebrated around the world as
International Volunteer Day. The timing
could not be better.
This is the time of year when volunteer activities are
in full swing with Santa Claus parades, Christmas con-
certs and fundraising bazaars. Most of all, this is when
efforts to gather items for Christmas hampers reach
their peak. This is a caring community; every child
should wake up Christmas morning to find presents
under the tree.
The theme of United Nations International Volunteer
Day this year is "Be the Change". Again, the timing is
significant for this part of Canada. For whatever reason,
food banks in many parts of the province have seen a
decline in donations, meaning families seeking assis-
tance are leaving with fewer food items than before.
This creates an opportunity for those of us who are for-
tunate enough to have plenty to donate: we can truly "be
the change" and turn things around for food banks this
season.
One can speculate on possible reasons for the decline
in donations. Perhaps the number of industrial jobs lost
is taking its toll. We are told new jobs are being created
in this province making the net loss minimal. However,
we have a sense the new jobs tend to include a few top -
end technology positions, and a lot of contract work and
minimum -wage part-time employment.
The impact of those factory doors closing is twofold.
Some of the laid -off workers who used to earn upwards
of $20 per hour plus benefits find themselves trying to
cobble together two or three part-time, low-end jobs to
make ends meet until they get something better. With
luck, they get by most months. If their luck fails... well,
there is always the food bank. Food bank use in Ontario
is up, and about a quarter of the people using food
banks these days actually have jobs. But they cannot
stretch a minimum -wage paycheque to cover increasing
housing and utility costs. In other words, some of the
people who used to contribute to food banks are now
using them.
Again, though, this is only speculation. We also hear
the rich are getting richer, while the lower end of what
used to be the middle class is dropping to the category of
working poor. Many wealthy people give generously to
charity - a couple of hundred thousand to keep the sym-
phony alive or establish scholarships for deserving stu-
dents. However, one rarely finds wealthy people drop-
ping off a grocery bag of tinned food at the local food
bank. This sort of charitable activity is what ordinary
working folk do.
Whatever the reason, food bank efforts make a real
difference to many people in our community, and it is up
to those of us who are able, to make sure the shelves are
filled to overflowing. Non-perishable food items, new
unwrapped gifts and cash donations (for purchase of
milk, baby formula and the like) are needed more than
ever. Give generously - "be the change" in someone's life
this Christmas.
- AND QUEBEC 15
A NATION WTFA!N
CANADA�.
It's a numbers game
It's just about that time that the Christmas feed-
ing frenzy is about to go into high gear and Visa
is there to throw gas on the fire as it has released
its annual gift -giving survey of the shopping
habits of 1,508 Canadians. And looking over the
numbers, just two questions kept playing in my
head. Who are these people that spend an aver-
age of $930 on gifts this season and more
importantly, how do I get to be friends
with them?
Being below average is something I've
got very comfortable with ever since the
first report card landed on the desk those
many years ago, except for the goals
against average, which was last seen
heading north a few years ago. And guys,
you don't have to worry about me drag-
ging up the average, so to speak.
At the top of the list is Ontario, where
according to the poll, we're going to spend
an average of $1,068 while Quebecers, surpris-
ingly, are fairly frugal when it comes to
Christmas shopping with an average of $740 per
person. Maybe it's only the money of other people
they like to spend freely.
Out west meanwhile in the province that is
splashing in the money pond from the black gold,
the "hurtin Albertans" have trimmed their spend-
ing to a modest $1,042 this year, down from
$1,081.
Other numbers in the poll say we buy an aver-
age of 13 presents for 10 people. Well, maybe if
you add the last 13 years together.
As usual, men are the more thoughtful
in the marriage competition, outspending
their opponents/wives by a margin of
$257 to $192. Hmmm, $257 you say? I
think some men are trying to bring up the
average in more ways than one.
For some reason, spouses are named as
the toughest to buy for with 38 per cent
of men agreeing, while only 17 per cent
of women say the same. (They would).
How it can be hard to shop for a spouse is
beyond me since I've known for months
The Wife's car needs a new set of snow
tires. Before you start thinking I'm too generous,
let me reassure you I've been waiting for the sale
to pick them up. It's going to be a merry
Christmas morning in the Bolen household this
year.
PAT B
BACK 40
VIEW
OLEN
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