Community efforts bring holidays to youth
December is the month of Christmas and Hannakuh. Eid and Diwali have already taken place, with festivities that include traditional foods and decorations and customs. At this time it is wonderful to gather with our families and friends to celebrate with food and customs that are meaningful to us. It is also important to remember those who are less fortunate. At this time of the year the Food Bank at 55 Newkirk Drive and the Salvation Army at 106220 Yonge Street are in need of help. If you can donate food items or perhaps gifts for children, these items will go to needy families in our community.
Once again this year, I will be helping to make possible a fun evening of celebration for Pathways/Homebase. the youth center that serves our community. We will be celebrating with a wonderful evening that comes together because a number of community partners donate food and gifts. Our community partners include Sue’s Produce, Jim’s No Frills, Starbucks, the Sheraton Parkway, Metrus and St. Marys Anglican Church and they all contribute to make a wonderful evening for some of our teenagers who would not have a Christmas dinner or party or gifts without this special night. And on this night we will feast on roast turkey and all the fixings prepared from the food donated by Sues Produce and courtesy the kitchens at Alex Mac Secondary School. The tables are set with linen from the Sheraton Parkway, the beverages and ice cream will come from Jim’s No Frills, coffee and hot chocolate from Starbucks and wonderful fresh apple pies baked on site at St. Mary’s by the ladies from the United Church. And the youth all leave that night with a goody bag full of gifts courtesy of Metrus Development. It is truly a community event that showcases the very best that we can be…..so enjoy your festive season, spend time with your family and be grateful for your blessings no matter how humble. For further information please contact my office at 905-771-2480.
