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Thursday, N ovem ber 19, 2015 - The IFP - H alton H ills - w w w .theifp.ca Page 35 Low Monthly Rates 24/7 Access & Pay Kiosk HEATED FACILITY TIME TORECLAIM YOUR GARAGE • SECurE • Well lit • Moving SupplieS 7 RiveR Rd. (Near the "GO") www.aplusselfstorage.org GeorGetown 905-866-7464 Winter Programs Start January 9th! Monkeynastix® is the pioneer of movement education for children For more details visit our website at www.monkeynastixmilton.ca Email: haltonhills@monkeynastix.ca • Phone: 905.864.4516 Building Healthy Kids! Keep your kids active this winter with Monkeynastix! Ages 1-9 yrs of age • Public Programs • Birthday Parties • School & Daycare Programs • Special Events 15% oFF party bookings! On Now at The Brick! For more details go instore or online @thebrick.com. InFocus would like to Welcome Jennifer Lusby to the team! Jennifer is a lifetime resident of Georgetown and brings with her over 20 years of experience as a Registered Physiotherapist. Jennifer will be providing after school and after work hours at the clinic. 81Todd Rd, Suite 201, Georgetown 905-702-7891 Freshly Made & Baked On Premises Breads, Buns, Pastries,Meat Pies & More! IMPORTED BRITISH CHEESES 330 GUELPH ST.,GEORGETOWN (opposite Canadian Tire) 905-877-0596 • www.millersscottishbakery.com MILLER'S ScottISh BakERy MILLER'S ScottISh BakERy COMMENT I think I found the heartbeat of Georgetown. You're welcome to come and take a look for yourself. You walk in the back door of St. John's United Church and head up a couple of flights of stairs. From here, the future looks a little bit brighter. From here, a small but devoted team sends out love, hope and help to thousands of people across Georgetown. I know my fam- ily has benefited from the United Way. Yours may have too, without you even realizing it. Homeless youth, adults who need a hand learning how to read, developmentally de- layed kids and adults, seniors who need a little help with daily care, girls getting a boost of self-esteem, it's all possible with assistance from the United Way. There will also be care packages again this year to make sure all kids across Georgetown have the Christmas they deserve. In all, 21 local agencies and 27 programs get funding from the United Way. And money donated in Halton Hills stays in the commu- nity. Janet Foster, the executive director of the United Way of Halton Hills, estimates about one in four local residents are served by an agency the charity supports. This year, Foster and a team of about 50 vol- unteers are looking to raise about $375,000, a realistic goal they hope to hit after falling short of the $400,000 goal they set last year. Foster and fundraising chair Susan Ksiezoposki say it wasn't through lack of effort that last year's target wasn't reached. They were perhaps a little bit optimistic, knowing that there are more people they would like to help if the money was there. "We all know how tough it is out there for fundraising," Foster says. "We also know there's a lot more groups that could use our help." Ksiezoposki says the agency "sets an ag- gressive goal every year because the need keeps growing." So far, so good. The 2015 campaign is right where it should be. But it's getting tougher. Volunteers are harder to find when everyone's life seems so busy. There are also so many other charities fighting for the same dollars. Foster has been with the agency since 2007. She grew up in Georgetown, raised her children here and now has grandchildren in town. She cares about Halton Hills and its fu- ture. She dreams about what could be accom- plished with a little more cash. "We often think about what we could do if we got just $50 from every business in town," she says. When Foster says it, it's more wishful thinking than a challenge. But if she won't say it, I will. Let's donate. Most of us can afford a few dollars to make our community a better place. Foster likes to think of it as "paying it back." She tells the story of a single mom who needed a Christmas hamper. The next year the same woman was back again, not for more help, but this time with a donation to ensure another family had a Merry Christ- mas. That's what the United Way is all about. It's helping your neighbours, helping your com- munity. You can make a donation or find out more by going to the website unitedwayofhalton- hills.com. The website also has details on the always popular holiday house tour set for Nov. 21 and an online auction which is running all month long. David Churchill is a longtime journalist who writes about family, life in Georgetown and a love of travel. Follow him on Twitter @ ChurchillDJ David Churchill Helping your community starts right here By David Churchill Dchurchill@cruiseshipcenters.ca