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Help the United Way make a difference As evidenced by the recent success of the numerous Christmas drives for toys and food, Halton Hills residents are second to none when it comes to giving. The annual Christmas drives were a resounding success which makes it all the more puzzling why the United Way of Halton Hills is struggling, once again, to reach its target. According to United Way of Halton Hills executive director Kim Robinson, the 2005-06 campaign finished $20,000 short of its $300,000 goal last year and she is concerned a similar shortfall could hit the organization for this year's campaign which is currently winding down. "If the community wants to invest in itself and its residents then we need additional support," said Robinson. The local United Way provides funding to 15 local agencies, ranging from Community Living North Halton to the Halton Trauma Centre to Links2Care (formerly Halton Hills Community Support and Information). When the United Way campaign falls short, those 15 agencies feel the pain. Hurting the local campaign is the fact Halton Hills does not have a large industrial base from which to draw support. That is why it is vital that local residents who donate at workplaces not in Halton Hills ensure their donation is directed to the United Way of Halton Hills. There is still time to donate and make a difference in the lives of your Halton Hills neighbors. Anyone interested in making a donation to the United Way of Halton Hills 2006 campaign can do so by calling the United Way office at 905-8773066 or sending a cheque to United Way of Halton Hills PO Box 286, Georgetown, ON, L7G 4Y5. Donations can also be made online at www.haltonhills.unitedway.ca. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POWER thanks newspaper for `balance' Dear editor I would like to thank your paper for its overall balance in reporting. All too often we are subjected to negative articles in the major media that represent an inaccurate impression of present circumstances and help create and uncomfortable vision of the future. It is our local press that continues to maintain the less dramatic but positive news that helps provide us all with encouragement. With that in mind, I would like to express our appreciation for your ongoing support of ecological sustainability in Halton Hills. We continue to work hard to educate the public about changing conditions that affect their environment, but it would be increasingly more difficult if we had to work within a vaccuum. Your press has been supportive over the past year, and it is much appreciated. Recently, Protect Our Water and Environmental Resources (P.O.W.E.R.) held its first environmental sustainability conference for students of Halton Hills. The conference took place at Georgetown District High School and involved up to ten young people from each of the schools of our town. Almost 100 students took part in this full-day experience that culminated in the formation of environmental action plans for each of their schools. P.O.W.E.R. would like to publically thank the dozens of volunteers who put in hundreds of hours to make this day such a success. These are all Halton Hills' residents working to help others from Halton Hills. Without their continued support and passion for the environment, none of our many activities could occur. We would also like to extend our sincere thanks to the staff and students of GDHS for their amazing co-operation-- especially teacher Laura Hudgin, who is already developing a national reputation on environmental issues, and the principal Ron Maruya. Their continued commitment to the environment, and their assistance in putting on the conference helped to make it the major success that it was. Once again, your paper's continued support for local endeavours is much appreciated. Please keep up the good work. Leslie Adams President Protect Our Water and Environmetal Resources (P.O.W.E.R.) Extraordin-hairy effort appreciated by food bank Dear editor, Last July a kind man from Georgetown made a $400 donation to the Georgetown Bread Basket. Robert Millard raised this money by growing his hair and beard very long and on one warm day in July, had it shaved by Kate Carney. The merchants of Georgetown supported this activity by making contributions to the cause. On behalf of the Georgetown Bread Basket, I wish to thank Robert, Kate and the downtown merchants. Marian Viant, Director media co-ordinator Georgetown Bread Basket Georgetown strangers are `angels' Dear editor, My husband was recently involved in a tragic motorcycle accident in our hometown of Chatham. His injuries were life-threatening and he was airlifted to London Hospital's trauma unit where my son and I took up residence at the hotel next to the hospital. We have never lived in or visited Georgetown, yet, because of a connection that a family member has to some of your wonderful citizens just days after the accident I received a card and donation from the Glen Riders Motorcycle Club and some patrons of Bracky's Bar to express get well wishes and to help with our expenses. I was, and continue to be, overwhelmed with the generosity that these wonderful people have shown us (we are strangers to them). Georgetown, you can be proud of your citizens as you truly have "angels in your midst". Thank you Glen Riders and Bracky's patrons. Gayle, Dave and Andrew Martens, Chatham