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7 | The IFP -H alton H ills | T hursday,D ecem ber 3,2020 theifp.ca The Town of Halton Hills is developing a Specialized Transit Plan and we want to hear from you! The Specialized Transit Plan will aim to improve the ActiVan service within the Town, better serving our residents/community and ultimately supporting the broader Halton Hills Transit Service Strategy. Visit the Specialized Transit Plan project page on letstalkhaltonhills.ca & have your say! Learnmore about the proposed plan, leave your feedback & comments, ask the Town questions & complete the survey before the December 18, 2020 deadline. ple who have suffered job losses, face illness, are vic- tims of a violent, abusive relationship, refugees lost within a system they don't know how to navigate. While most of Halton's half-million residents en- joy a high quality of life, there are others who are not as fortunate and they are all around us. You might not pay much attention to the young cou- ple ahead of you in the ear- ly morning coffee line up, unaware they are desti- tute, their meagre belong- ings piled in a shopping cart outside. You barely notice an ob- scure motel in your com- munity, but it's home to a very sick man who does odd jobs for a small dis- count in rent, while bat- tling cancer and living off gift cards to supply him with liquid nutrition. Without knowing, you might pass a nondescript house in your neighbour- hood on an evening stroll, where a homeless couple is sheltered in the garage, completely dependent on donations and the kind- ness of the homeowner. Perhaps you're seated near a frail elderly woman in church, who unbe- knownst to you has been robbed of her estate by a relative and forced to seek help for the basics of life from complete strangers. It is for these people and hundreds of others with similar heartbreaking sto- ries that the Compassion Society is needed "as we are non-discriminatory, non- judgmental, not-faith-based and inclusive." One client with a partic- ularly heart-wrenching im- migrant story wrote Khawa- ri this note of thanks: "I am so grateful be- cause without the foods and supplies they are giv- ing. I don't know how can we survive. It is such a re- lief to my mental, physical and financial stress. We can't thank you one by one, but I hope this message will reach you all." Before the pandemic hit, the Compassion Soci- ety's client base was 600 ac- tive recipients. Not all need help every week, but the fallout from COVID-19 has meant an uptick in num- bers. Since April, approxi- mately 290 families have been using the services of the Compassion Society and as the countdown to Christmas begins, the struggle to raise funds to support the now more than 300 families through the holiday season, is under- way. "We're not a Christmas program; we are here for help throughout the year," said Khawari. "The Christ- mas program is basically for the families who come to us throughout the year." Others who come in search of help specifically for the holiday, are re- ferred to the many organi- zations in the region who offer Christmas programs, such as the Salvation Ar- my, she said. This season, the Com- passion Society's annual Christmas market program has been revised. Clients will instead receive retail gift cards in the amount of $50 for small families (three people and under) and $100 for larger families (four peo- ple and up), and these will be given out over two weeks in December. The Compassion Soci- ety has also partnered with several other organiza- tions, both local and re- gional, to meet the needs of individuals and families this Christmas. For exam- ple, although the Compas- sion Society is collecting toys in bins outside its of- fice, the Salvation Army outlets in Burlington, Oak- ville, Milton, Georgetown and Acton will be distribut- ing the toys to families in need in their respective communities. Compassion Society gift cards will be accepted through Decem- ber. Monetary donations are also welcome by going to www.canadahelps.org/ en/giv3/97839. Hours of the Compas- sion Society, located at 484 Plains Rd. E., are Monday, Wednesday and Friday, from noon to 2 p.m. Visit www.compassion- societyofhalton.com for more information, or call 905-592-3722. STORY BEHIND THE STORY: With the pandemic amplifying the needs of vulnerable local residents, we wanted to shine a light on how the Compassion Society of Halton is helping the less fortunate living among the affluent of the region. NEWS Continued from page 1 PANDEMIC INCREASING CHARITY'S CLIENT BASE "I am so grateful because without the foods and supplies they are giving. I don't know how can we survive." - Client email to Compassion Society of Halton executive director