Wherever you look in the Valley at this time of year you will find neighbours helping others in need; it’s truly the time for giving. Below The Current highlights just a few instances of old-fashioned Valley generosity witnessed during the past couple of weeks.
On December 9 we reported on the Madawaska Valley Lions Club Santa Claus Parade and clothing/toy giveaway at the children’s Christmas Party after the parade. Kids got a visit with Santa, a free hotdog lunch, face-painting by Paige Mask (above Cecilia Lorbetskie gets painted as Grinch Jack Lance and children watch) and balloons twisted by mother/daughter duo Mary Lou Wills and Sarah Wright. Daly Contracting gave out one hundred turkeys at the arena that day.
In the same article you’ll find our report on this year’s Tree of Lights Celebration at the Barry’s Bay train station as the St. Francis Valley Healthcare Foundation raises funds for its Christmas campaign to purchase much-needed X-ray equipment for the hospital. (Donations accepted until Dec. 31.) Inset left: St. Francis Memorial Hospital Auxiliary volunteers Sally Trebinskie, Theresa Chapeskie, Theresa Prince inside the Railway Station.
Northern Credit Union (inset left) has held its third annual winter wear drive to benefit CPAN Child Poverty Action Network in Renfrew County. From left: Lynn Beauchamp, Jodie Jeffrey, Heather Lehovitch, Kelly Pelletier, Brittany Tomasini (absent Trista Betournay, who the others credit with organizing this annual winter clothing drive. “It’s her baby,” says Branch manager Beauchamp.)
Madawaska Valley Family Health Team have a Mitten Tree this year. Executive Director Susan Farrar says this is their First Christmas in the Valley since the FHT was officially launched last January, so staff are very happy to return the warmth they’ve received by collecting hats, mittens and scarves for local residents in need.
This year’s MooseFM Radiothon to benefit the Madawaska Valley Food Bank ran from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Dec. 5, with volunteers taking two-hour shifts to help MooseFM morning man Trevor Smith-Millar. The one day fundraising marathon netted $9825 for families in need in the Madawaska Valley and area. The Current arrived at the studio as Smith-Millar was chatting with former MooseFM DJ Devon Jolander who had called in from his new radio station in Regina to see how the Radiothon was going. Jolander wished the Radiothon team well and said how much he missed the Valley and the friendships he had made here. The team was composed of some pretty tired folks, but they still managed smiles for the camera that afternoon (from left) Trevor Smith-Millar and Angela Trolley of MooseFM, Tish Whitfield and Christine Noel of MV Food Bank.
Following on from their Food For Fines drive during Library Week earlier this fall, Madawaska Valley Public Library (above left) continues to collect donations of non-perishable food items during the Christmas season. The Barry’s Bay Post Office participates with collections for its annual Food and Toy Drive. (above right).
A Christmas Dinner set the scene for more than 90 Valley seniors to load the “Angel Tree” at the Opeongo Seniors Centre (above left) with toys and gift cards for local children and teens. The occasion was marked by a visit from 1st Barry’s Bay Spark/Brownie/Guide/Pathfinder/Ranger Unit (Above right) who received a donation of $100 from the Seniors Centre in recognition of the girls’ work in the community. Pictured from left are Unit Leaders Stacie Pecarski, Brenda Clavette-Belland with Seniors Centre President Leah Kinghorn. Front row: Cheyenne Pecarski (left), Alexis Pecarski (at back with cheque) and Adelaine Ronholm-Hoftyzer.
Access Work Service decided to share skills this season with a Christmas Card workshop on Dec. 11 (inset left). The first card was free and subsequent cards cost just $2 each, all materials provided. AWS reliable workers are ready, willing, and able to help homeowners and businesses with all kinds of jobs. Along with their job coach a worker can assist you whatever your goals.
Just about every Valley church, school, business and service club works hard to raise funds to help other residents and non-profit organizations in need. And then there are those who give of their time instead of fund-raising, like our hospice volunteers and grief counsellors who help families and individuals with end of life concerns. MV Hospice Palliative Care recently held its Help for the Holidays seminar at the Opeongo Seniors Centre to ease the challenges many recently-bereaved people feel during the first Christmas season without a loved one.
These are just a few of the many hard-working Valley residents who, through their giving to those in need both at Christmas time and all year long, help to make this such a great place to live. If there’s a good cause that’s dear to your heart, feel free to mention it in the Comments section below.
