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th ei fp .c a Th e IF P -H al to n H ill s | T hu rs da y, Ju ly 30 ,2 02 0 | 6 ABOUT US This newspaper, published every Thursday, is a division of the Metroland Media Group Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Torstar Corporation. The Metroland family of newspapers is comprised of more than 80 community publications across Ontario. This newspaper is a member of the National NewsMedia Council. Complainants are urged to bring their concerns to the attention of the news- paper and, if not satisfied, write The National NewsMedia Council, Suite 200, 890 Yonge St., Toronto, ON M4W 2H2. Phone: 416-340-1981 Web: www.mediacouncil.ca newsroom@theifp.ca IndependentAndFreePress @IFP_11 WHO WE ARE Publisher Kelly Montague Regional Managing Editor Catherine O'Hara Managing Editor Karen Miceli Distribution Representative Iouliana Polar Real Estate Kristie Pells Regional Production Manager Manuel Garcia Halton Media General Manager Jason Pehora CONTACT US The Independent & Free Press 280 Guelph Street, Unit 77 Georgetown, ON L7G 4B1 Phone: 905-873-0301 Classifieds: 1-800-263-6480 Fax: 905-873-0398 Letters to the editor All letters must be fewer than 320 words and include your name and telephone number for verification purposes. We reserve the right to edit, condense or reject letters. Published letters will appear in print and/or online at theifp.ca Delivery For all delivery inquiries, please e-mail lpolar@miltoncanadianchampion.com or call 905-234-1019. OPINION TO LEARN HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR OWN CONTENT VISIT THEIFP.CA When COVID-19 start- ed, you heard us loud and clear - women in abusive homes were not able to call the shelter or their friends and family. There was no reprieve - no safe time - to call or reach out. Now, we are see- ing our crisis calls in- crease and we are prepar- ing for an influx of clients. And in the midst of all of this, all our face-to-face events have been can- celled, resulting in a huge financial loss for the orga- nization that directly sup- ports women and children who need us. Halton, we need you. But where there is chal- lenge, there is opportunity. Here are a couple of differ- ent virtual fundraisers you can easily host. • Challenge yourself ! Ask friends and family to pledge you to complete a challenge (e.g., 20 pushups, walking a long distance, book reading goals, doing at-home yoga, and so on). • Use your talents! Lead a workout, gardening or craft tutorial on your Face- book or Instagram page, and ask your virtual at- tendees to donate to partic- ipate. • "Gift" back! Have a vir- tual birthday/anniversary party and collect dona- tions for Halton Women's CHALLENGING TIME FOR OUR SHELTERS HALTON WOMEN'S PLACE CALLING ON COMMUNITY'S SUPPORT AS CRISIS CALLS ON THE RISE, WRITES CARM BOZZO The alarm clock face is blinking at you like a neon sign on the fritz, but un- folding yourself out of bed is optional -- at least for an- other half-hour. Everyone else in the house stumbles to life, out of sync, like "Lost in Space" characters dropping out of suspended animation. You're safe in a bubble but working from home -- "life- ing from home" -- as a friend of mine put it. The morning rituals that populated your sun- rise are undefined or have been readapted digitally. You may have that Zoom meeting at 10:30 a.m. and a day on the laptop carved in pencil -- but a big whack of time normally dedicated to slapping on your public face, herding your family toward their needed desti- nations, leaping in your car to wait in line at the Star- bucks drive-thru for your Grande Americano, fol- lowed by the sprint to grab the GO train or worse, stare down the QEW shuf- fle and on to face your of- fice day just isn't there. It went poof. Life will re-emerge but now something new is prodding the inner recess- es of your scalp. It's a voice saying, "may- be the universe is offering me a way off the gerbil wheel." But how do you moti- vate to reinvent your life while at home? Where do you start? I'm going to offer a few thoughts. Take them, leave them, adapt them or try them on for size. It's all up to you. The hurry-up-and-wait universe we find ourselves in is ideal for reinvention. Know that structure, lists and planning are fine, but it is not motivation and isn't going to get you scis- soring off to fulfilment at a gallop. Motivation comes from seeing positive change, however small, not just as- piring to it. Peaks and val- leys are part of the process so allow for gobs of nothing getting done. Don't let it hobble you. Stephen Ilott is a profes- sional home organizer with decluttering.ca and author of "The Domestic Archaeologist." For more information, visit www.de- cluttering.ca or contact him at info@declutter- ing.ca. HOW TO SELF-MOTIVATE WHILE AT HOME HURRY-UP-AND -WAIT UNIVERSE MANY OF US ARE NOW IN OFFERS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR REINVENTION, WRITES STEPHEN ILOTT STEPHEN ILOTT Column SNAPSHOT A male downy woodpecker visits a local backyard. Do you have a great local photo you'd like to share? Send it to sleblanc@metroland.com, along with a brief description. Tony Fortunato photo CARM BOZZO Column Place in lieu of gifts. • Games for a good cause! Host a game night, poker tournament or bin- go night! Special thanks goes out to Dr. Vineet Bhandari from Bhandari Dental, who, as part of their Brighter Smiles for our Community program, is offering in-office whiten- ing for a reduced price, with proceeds directed to Halton Women's Place. Call to book, and mention Halton Women's Place to get the promo price! Call them at (289) 813-8239 and visit their website at bhan- daridental.com. And our supporters have been filling their cups! Will you join them? Have a virtual (or physical- ly distanced) coffee with a friend, colleague or family member, and donate the cost of your daily cup of coffee to help Halton Wom- en's Place during this diffi- cult financial time. (Dona- tions of $20 or more will re- ceive a tax receipt!) Find out more at haltonwomen- splace.com/events/fill- your-cup. For more information on how you can support Halton Women's Place, or to find out more about us, email kmckenna@halton- womensplace.com. Visit our website at www.hal- tonwomensplace.com. Carm Bozzo is the man- ager of development and communications for Hal- ton Women's Place. She can be reached at cboz- zo@haltonwomen- splace.com. SIGN UP FOR OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER AT THEIFP.CA