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2008 COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS BASKET PROGRAM INFORMATION
Last year the Community Christmas Basket Program
helped 110 families, comprised of 174 adults and
seniors and 127children, totaling 301 people.
The combined population of Laurentian Hills and Deep
River is 7000. This includes the geographical area
from Deux Rivičres to Chalk River, the catchment
area served by North Renfrew
Family Services.
It’s astounding that in our affluent community, one
in twenty-five people are living below the poverty
level of $16,000/year. This does not include the
people who do not come forward to ask for help. Many
people live well below that government statistic,
e.g. a single person living on a disability pension
receives ~$12,000/year; a single Ontario Works’
recipient receives ~$6,800/year and a senior
collecting only Old Age Security receives
$6203/year. All of these examples are well below
what even the government depicts as “poverty”.
In our community poverty looks very different from
large inner city visuals. Our poor live in our
neighbourhoods, go to our schools and churches, and
play with our children. This must make poverty
exceptionally difficult as parents struggle to help
their children fit in. Visuals can be very
deceiving.
An attitude that is prevalent is that people on
social assistance are lazy, that they all smoke and
drink and then have no money left over to put food
on the table or clothes on their kids’ backs, or
they take advantage of the services that are
provided. There are always a few who fit these
profiles, but it is not the fault of the children.
People living in poverty didn’t choose that
lifestyle because it’s profitable -
It’s life circumstances … no one is exempt…
accidents, divorce, working poor, born with mental
or physical disabilities, etc. As a community, we
all need to take part in providing inclusion for all
members of Deep River and Laurentian Hills,
especially the children. If we are not part of the
solution, then we are part of the problem.
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How can you help?
- Cash donations
- Christmas stockings for children
- Fire Department Toy Drive
- Angel Trees
- Gift certificates
Write a cheque and send it to North Renfrew
Family Services (mark it “Gift Basket Program”) and
mail to Box 1334, Deep River. Cash can be dropped
off at the NRFS office in the medical building, 109
Banting Drive. These donations are the essence of
this community program. The money is used to
purchase the food certificates. The more collected,
the
more who can be helped.
For further personal involvement, choose an “angel”,
fill a stocking, or buy a new toy and drop it
off at the Fire Department. Or, as a social
activist, encourage your church, service club,
employer,
bridge group, book club, Brownie Pack, sports team,
etc. to make a group donation to this very
worthwhile Community program.
Find out more
Note: Donations of non-perishable food items
are always welcome at the local Food Bank.
If you need help?
To apply, phone 584-3358, between 5:30 and
8:30 pm, Friday evening, 2008 December 5th, or
Saturday morning, December 6th, between 9 am and 12
noon.
Seniors, singles, families, teens on their
own, those with disabilities, anyone with limited or
fixed low income may apply. |
