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3 · Friday, October 14, 2011 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.insideHALTON.com Home Suite Hope gives mother of three hope By Dominik Kurek OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF An Oakville single-mother of three teenagers who suffered a number of health problems doesn't even want to think about where her family would be without Home Suite Hope (HSH). The woman, speaking to the Beaver r on condition her name not be used, provided her story with the hope that people support the local charitable organization that has helped her so much at its upcoming fundraiser, the fifth annual Empty Bowls event. The event takes place on Sunday, Oct. 16 at St. Mildred's-Lightbourn School, a new location this year. "I don't know what I would have done without them. They've been amazing to us," said Rebecca, not her real name. "I have no idea where I would have been because I don't know how we would manage. We would have been homeless. I don't think I would have ever been able to get back on my feet." The woman and her children have lived in Oakville for a number of years, struggling but surviving. "As a single parent, it's been tough all along. We don't have support from any family so we were kind of just scraping by already," she said. Then everything changed when she got breast cancer. "That added a lot of extra stress," she said. "We were already having some issues financially. That just catapulted us to a place where we didn't know what we were going to do. We almost became homeless and if it wasn't for Home Suite Hope we would have been." The cancer did go into remission. However, Rebecca experienced other health problems, including anemia, which has forced her to take sick leave from work. Not being able to return to work full-time resulted in the loss of her job. "The anemia has caused a lot of health issues. I still have to see the doctor on a regular basis," she said. Through the ordeal, Home Suite Hope was able bl to h help, l in a number b of f ways. The h organization provided rent subsidies, delivered fresh food and provided family counseling and support. "The bills were piling up, I couldn't pay rent. I couldn't do a lot of things. I don't think I could have managed. I don't even want to think about what would have happened to us," Rebecca said. Now that she has regained her health, Rebecca is hoping to get back into the working world or to return to school to upgrade her skills, something she would have to do to return to her former job. She is hoping to get funding through the Second Career program through Employment Insurance. "I finally feel like I can wake up and get out of bed without feeling like I can't move. Anemia is pretty bad. It pretty much disables you," she said. Though this is just one story, Rebecca adds there h are others h in the h community who h need d such support. "There are a lot of people living in poverty and with issues but there's not a lot of help out there," she said. "(Home Suite Hope) has opened some doors. They've given some hope. They've landed us back on our feet. They've given us a second chance at life. They seriously have. For that organization to offer that to people is a wonderful thing." The Empty Bowl fundraiser runs from noon to 3 p.m. Tickets cost $55 and include a $25 charitable tax receipt. For the price of admission, participants will get all the ladles of soup they can consume from 19 different participating restaurants and caterers in the school's gym. In addition to the food, participants will receive artfully painted bowls and a cookbook, titled Souper Bowl V. "Whoever supports Home Suite Hope is doing a very good thing," Rebecca said. Inside d Opinion.............................................6 Artscene..........................................35 Worship..........................................39 Sports..............................................36 Classified........................................43 Full Delivery: New Homes, Sunshades Window, 2001 Audio, Hoppers, Alexanian Carpets, Smart Source, Oakville Wrap, Mississauga Booster, Rabba Fine Foods Partial Delivery: Michael's, The Brick For home delivery & customer service call (905) 845-9742 Mon., Tues. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Wed., Thu., and Fri. 9 a.m.-7 p.m. (open for calls only after 5 p.m.) Closed Sat. and Sun. NEW SUBSCRIPTIONS call (905) 845-9742 or subscribe online @ www.oakvillebeaver.com LUXURY. FASHION. SERVICE. 200 Lakeshore Road East, Oakville · 905.842.0232 · www.burrowsclothiers.com ent Excell e servic since 1993 NEW PROGRAMS STARTING DR RIV VIN ING NG IS A PR PRIV IV VIL ILEG LEG EGE, E LE LET US US HE HELP LP YO OU EA EARN IT T OCT. 22 & 29 EVENING: OCT. 31 Valid for defensive driving programs only WEEKEND: 407 Speers Road Suite 21 13 3 Save $50 905-825-1172