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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday December 17, 2008 - 19 Christmas Wonders program brings cheer to 400 families By Tina Depko OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Kerr Street Ministries is hoping people still have a little bit left to give as the organization enters its final week of collecting donations for its Christmas Wonders program. This is the ninth year for the outreach program that provides food vouchers, gift cards and presents to less-fortunate members of the Oakville community. Gift cards to various stores, vouchers for grocery stores and monetary donations are still needed. "Food vouchers are at the top of the list," said Agnes Stassen, program coordinator. "When we ask people what they need for Christmas, a lot of them say they just want food vouchers. We ask for $25 vouchers. For the gift vouchers, they would be for stores like Zellers, Wal-Mart, Canadian Tire, Swiss Chalet, Tim Hortons and Shoppers." Gift cards are especially welcome as they help families choose what is needed most, Stassen said. "It is amazing how many families on their wish list say they don't want toys for children, but want winter clothing, so this is their oppor- "We help well over 1,000 people in total. The majority of these families are clients that come to us throughout the year." Agnes Stassen, Christmas Wonders program co-ordinator tunity to get that for their children," she said. Donations will be accepted until the afternoon of Dec. 24. "We are busy right through to then," Stassen said. "We will be getting families right until the 24th." The Christmas Wonders program is launched at the end of August. Families, schools, businesses, churches and other organizations sign up in the fall to sponsor a family or individual in need. Sponsors are provided with a wish list from the family or individual of what they need. Each person on the receiving end is given a total of $100 in gifts, gift certificates and food vouchers. There are never enough sponsors for the number of people on the list, so Kerr Street Ministries relies on donations to make up the rest of the gift packages. There are at least 50 families that were not sponsored this year, so Kerr Street Ministries is counting on members of the community to come through with donations. "We can never get enough sponsors," Stassen said. "We can only get enough sponsors for about 2/3 of our families, so for the other 1/3, we make packages here ourselves." There are close to 400 families assisted through the program, as well as many individuals. These individuals include adults, seniors and those who are mentally challenged. "We help well over 1,000 people in total," said Stassen. "The majority of these families are clients that come to us throughout the year." Tough economic times have resulted in an increased demand for this year's program. Approximately 13,000 people in Oakville live below the poverty line, according to the organization. "We are helping those who live below the poverty line, we're helping single parents, the working poor and we are helping the immigrants when they come in," she said. "We are also helping the mentally handicapped, and of course, the ones other organizations refer to us. We will always have the poor with us, for whatever reason." And the list of people who are in need of help is growing. "Because of the economy, we've had so many people who have called in and said, `I just lost my job and I've got nothing for my family for Christmas,'" Stassen said. "There was a single dad who walked in the other day with three kids who just lost his job." Last year, donations totaled approximately $300,000. The program would not be possible without the generosity of the community, Stassen said. This includes local businesses like Concept Flooring and Concept Lighting Galleries, Royal Bank and the Kerr Street BIA. "If it wasn't for the people of Oakville donating, the majority of these people would not have anything for Christmas," she said. "It provides a tremendous amount of Christmas cheer and happiness to these people. We had one lady, for example, tell us that it was the first time in 10 years she had received a Christmas present." For information or to donate, visit Kerr Street Ministries at 484 Kerr St. from Monday to Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., call Agnes Stassen at 905-845-7485, ext. 208 or visit www.kerrstreet.com. ille's tore Oakv ple S gs! #1 Ap avin yS lida Ho New iPods and MacBooks Now in Stock! Save! Holiday hours! Monday to Friday 9am - 7 pm Saturday 10 am - 6 pm Sunday 11am - 5pm Save $80 on Canon MP240 Printer* Authorized Service Centre Save on... now available! 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