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Dec 20, 2010

John Campbell

CAMPBELLFORD – It’s a good thing Santa outsources some of his work.

Otherwise, his elves would collapse from exhaustion trying to keep millions of children happy.

In this part of the world, Santa can thank the Campbellford-Seymour Firefighters Association and Community Living Campbellford/Brighton for providing . . . → Read More: Firefighters and Community Living join forces for the kids]]> Northumberland News – The Independent

Dec 20, 2010

John Campbell

CAMPBELLFORD – It’s a good thing Santa outsources some of his work.

Otherwise, his elves would collapse from exhaustion trying to keep millions of children happy.

In this part of the world, Santa can thank the Campbellford-Seymour Firefighters Association and Community Living Campbellford/Brighton for providing a much-needed helping hand.

The two organizations decided to combine forces this Christmas and conduct one toy and food drive together rather than proceed on their own, as in years past. The partnership paid off handsomely, with the result on display Monday night in the fire hall, where six tables were laden with toys, games, dolls, action figures, books and many other wonderful gifts, with more of the same on the floor.

“It’s set up like a little department store,” Fire Chief Tim Blake said. And there shopping for presents were teachers from the three elementary schools in Campbellford – Hillcrest, Kent and St. Mary’s – on behalf of low-income families who couldn’t afford such gifts for their children.

With lists in hand of what the students hoped to get this Christmas, the teachers filled boxes with presents that will be distributed next week.

“I’m just overwhelmed by the amount of stuff,” said Bev Nicholas, a Grade 1 teacher at Hillcrest, who was there with educational assistant Kim Blake to collect toys for 12 families with students at their school. Allison Edwards and Peggy O’Connor were doing the same for St. Mary’s, acting as a surrogate Santa for 13 families with 22 children.

“This is a fantastic opportunity,” Ms. Edwards said. “It’s really nice to see the community really contributing.”

“We’ve got lots of need in our school and lots of need in the community,” said Patrick Muldoon, a Grade 4/5 teacher at Kent, as he and fellow teachers Betsy Thompson and Samantha Mills were busy gathering up toys for 17 children.

“It’s amazing that the community comes out with this much stuff,” he said. “This works out really well for us.

Mr. Muldoon and Ms. Edwards said the collaborative effort by the firefighters and Community Living will free up funds the schools have collected for other purposes. At St. Mary’s, it’s money for food hampers; at Kent, it’s for groceries as well but also coats, boots and other apparel for families “that didn’t really want toys, they wanted to focus more on the clothes,” Mr. Muldoon said. Nine children will be helped this way.

Mr. Muldoon said Kent raised about $9,000 in one week so that it could “go out and spoil the kids at Christmas” who otherwise would receive little.

Having some of that responsibility shared will enable Kent to keep some of the money in an accessibility fund it uses throughout the year, he said, for families who need help to buy school supplies, send a child on school trips or deal with an emergency. Chief Blake said he got in touch with Community Living executive director Nancy Brown to see if her agency would be interested in working together to collect food and toys this season.

“We’ve been doing it for 10 years but we weren’t doing it very well,” he said. By pooling resources, “the kids are going to reap the benefits of it.”

“It’s been a huge success,” said Kari Crate, outcome support facilitator with Community Living. “I know we’ve definitely had more toys collected this year … There will be lots of kids with lots of gifts that they will be excited about.”

All the toys and other goodies that remained after the teachers completed their shopping were delivered to the Salvation Army where they will be distributed more widely than just Campbellford and surrounding area.

“I know the Salvation Army is going to be very happy with what they’re getting this year,” Chief Blake said.

He heaped praise on the many partners who made the Christmas Wish Toy and Food Drive such a huge success: Canadian Tire, Rona Cashway, Giant Tiger, the LCBO, Community Resource Centre, Curves for Women, Home Hardware, Sharpe’s Food Market, Bill’s No Frills, Stedmans, Liquidation World, Campbellford Office Supplies, Ontario Power Generation, Campbellford Veterinary Services, Campbellford District High School, Duke’s Bait Shop and Wayne Morrison Construction. Mr. Morrison, as he did last year, donated $100, a sum matched by the firefighters association, to be divided among the three schools for the purchase of food or particular gifts.

Chief Blake said the outstanding support shown the combined toy and food drive was another example of local residents willing to go to bat for each other in a time of need.

“It just snowballed and, hopefully, it keeps going,” he said, looking ahead to next year.

“It’s unbelievable the generosity,” said Ms. Crate, who was “blown away by the amount and the quality of toys” that were donated.

“They’re really cool gifts.”

Ray Yurkowski

EMC Lifestyles – Campbellford – Santa’s sleigh, parked in the lobby of the Community Resource Centre, was overflowing with toys and food last week thanks to the generosity of dozens of people who lined up to drop off their donations as the Christmas Wish event got under way.

This year . . . → Read More: Fourth year of Christmas Wish gets under way]]> Article by

EMC Lifestyles – Campbellford – Santa’s sleigh, parked in the lobby of the Community Resource Centre, was overflowing with toys and food last week thanks to the generosity of dozens of people who lined up to drop off their donations as the Christmas Wish event got under way.

This year marks the fourth year for the toy and food drive and, according to Lori Buchan of Community Living, it all started with Salvation Army volunteer Dave Montgomery.

“He just wanted to make a difference,” said Buchan. “Toys were being collected in the Trent Hills area but they weren’t ending up here.”

And now, the Christmas Wish is even bigger this year, thanks to a collaborative effort between Community Living and the Campbellford Fire Department.

“It’s great to see the partnership in Campbellford,” said Captain Steve Manuel of the Salvation Army, who attended the kickoff event. “It’s tremendous that agencies and businesses are pulling together to make sure that families who need support at this time of year are looked after.”

“That’s the goal,” added Buchan. “Every child in Campbellford will have a toy this Christmas.”

As well as the Community Resource Centre, donations can be dropped off at a number of Campbellford locations including Canadian Tire, Rona Cashway, Giant Tiger, Home Hardware, Sharpe’s Food Market, No Frills, Stedman’s, Liquidation World and Campbellford Office Supplies. But there are only a few days left to help out. The Christmas Wish toy and food drive ends on December 13.

As you read this, another Christmas community effort is wrapping up for another year, the Week of Sharing at Kent Public School. For about ten years now, a week’s worth of events at the school are geared toward helping Kent families who need a hand during the festive season.

Santa was on the receiving end of the gift-giving process when Joel Murray presented 12 toys and games to the annual Christmas . . . → Read More: Boy plays Santa]]> Eight-year-old donates presents to toy drive

By Mark Hoult Community Press

Campbellford — Santa Claus and an eight-year-old Campbellford boy switched roles when they met this week at the Campbellford Community Resource Centre.

Santa was on the receiving end of the gift-giving process when Joel Murray presented 12 toys and games to the annual Christmas Wish Toy and Food Drive, organized by Community Living Campbellford-Brighton and the Campbellford-Seymour Fire Department.

Joel will turn nine in January, but celebrated his birthday a month early with a skating party with family and friends at the Campbellford arena so he could give 12 of his 14 gifts to less fortunate children.

 ”I wanted to give the kids who don’t have anything some gifts so they will have something for Christmas,” Joel said, adding he will probably do the same thing again next year.

“It makes me feel glad,” he said after helping Santa load up his sled in the lobby of the resource centre. “And I think the kids will feel happy when they have something on Christmas morning.”

Joel’s mother Carla Murray said she is “very proud” of her son for volunteering to give up most of his birthday gifts.

“Joel is always very thoughtful and thinking of other people. It is a lesson for all my kids to be generous this time of year.” 

The Campbellford/Seymour Fire Department and Community Living Campbellford-Brighton joined forces to spearhead the 2010 campaign to collect toys and food for the Christmas season, in partnership with the Campbellford Community Resource Centre, Giant Tiger , Home Hardware, Canadian Tire, No Frills, Stedman’s, Sharpe’s Food Market, Liquidation World, Campbellford Office Supplies, Ontario Power Generation and Campbellford District High School.

The collection and distribution of toys will take place Dec. 13-15 but, until then, residents are welcome to bring toys and non-perishable food items to the resource centre on Bridge Street. For more information, call Bev Haley at 653-1821, ext. 208.

EMC Lifestyles – Campbellford – The Royal Bank of Canada’s Employee Volunteer Grants Program appears to be working constructively, particularly here in Campbellford.

Since 1999, RBC has made over 16,900 grants and donated more than $8.9 million to worthy organizations. The latest on the receiving end of the . . . → Read More: Royal Bank Hands Out Employee Volunteer Grants]]> Posted Nov 4, 2010 By Rolly Ethier

EMC Lifestyles – Campbellford – The Royal Bank of Canada’s Employee Volunteer Grants Program appears to be working constructively, particularly here in Campbellford.

Since 1999, RBC has made over 16,900 grants and donated more than $8.9 million to worthy organizations. The latest on the receiving end of the Royal Bank largesse are two Campbellford-based volunteer groups: Community Living Campbellford/Brighton and the Trent Hills chapter of the Heart and Stroke Society.

Two long-term employees of RBC, now retired, Elizabeth Park and Marlene Mood, applied for and received $500 grants for their volunteerism in the area. As spouses of two members of the Community Living Board of Directors, Liz and Marlene have each provided extensive support to that organization. Both have contributed at official CLCB functions or fund-raising initiatives, such as the annual Toy Drive. They have also assisted husbands Chris Park and John Mood, who are members of the Community Living Board.

Liz and Marlene continue to dedicate countless hours of steadfast, behind-the-scenes support to CLCB.

The Community Living will use the Royal Bank funding to provide persons with an intellectual disability the financial assistance to achieve their personal outcomes and realize their life goals and dreams. This funding is also used to offset costs for items otherwise unaffordable as well as assisting with the high costs of accessible transportationa reality that currently restricts some people from full community participation.

Meanwhile, Heart and Stroke was staging their own celebration of a grant presentation from RBC. Once again, Dianne Mechetuk, a dedicated volunteer of Heart and Stroke activities, turned over her grant of $500 which is to go to the Trent Hills chapter for education initiatives. Dianne, the manager of the local Royal Bank branch, has worked hard for several years organizing the local Big Bike fund raiser for Heart and Stroke.

Beth Dowell, the Area Manager for Heart and Stroke, attended to accept the grant donation from Ms. Mechetuk at a regular society meeting held at the Campbellford Library.