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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, December 20, 2013 | 6 It's the little things that count A hug, a smile, a helping hand when you're down, someone who believes in you despite the odds. These gestures are those that are most noticed, appreciated and most remembered. They are the actions, not of self-service, but of true generosity, a kind, not grasping, spirit. They are sincere, they cost nothing, they give a great deal -- they give hope often when it's most needed. And that is what the holidays are about -- hope. This week, the Oakville Beaver has reported that local charities -- the Salvation Army of Oakville and Kerr Street Ministries (KSM) -- are struggling to meet their holiday fundraising goals. These `goals' are not money in the bank for these groups, but rather what they use to help people in need. The local charities are struggling -- to help people who are struggling. It may be a toy for a child on Christmas morning, a simple, but festive, feast on a family's table, the comfort of a warm bed or the safety of a home against the harsh winter winds. It is hope. The gift of hope is one that is treasured, not only for the moment it is received, but for many years to come, often forever. For those who give hope, they have often parted, not with great sums of cash or grand gestures, but of far more precious treasures, their smile, their warmth, their kindness. They may not understand how far that kindness will be carried by its recipient or the depth of meaning it has to that recipient. Earlier this season, we suggested each of us should, through the holiday rush, commit to help at least one person. Consider how different life for those in need would be if each of us accepted this challenge. Need is all around us. We need only look. There are the great disparities we see immediately and then there are those that remain obscured from view, but which we know exist. Need may be in the form of a family member, friend or colleague coping with a nancial or personal crisis, job loss, a death or a family issue. A kind word can go a long way in easing their burden. Christmas is about giving. Often, the most important gifts people can give or receive are those which we all have in abundance, which are easy to give -- a smile, a hug, a kind word, a nice gesture. It can take but a minute, but its effects often last a lifetime. Merry Christmas. Editorial "Connected to your Community" Letters to the Editor 447 Speers Road, Oakville ON, L6K 3S4 General Inquiries: (905) 845-3824 Editorial Department: (905) 632-0588 Classi ed Advertising: (905) 632-4440 Circulation: 5300 Harvester Rd., Burlington (905) 631-6095 Volume 51 | Number 152 The Oakville Beaver is a division of Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. Vice ­President and Group Publisher of Metroland West Regional General Manager NEIL OLIVER DAVID HARVEY JILL DAVIS The Lighthouse Program for Grieving Children executive director Britta Martini-Miles, left, accepts a $5,000 donation from Bruce Caplan of The Canadian Million Dollar Round Table, and his wife Linn Caplan. Halton Region Editor in Chief Advertising Director Giving a bit of razzle dazzle where it is deserved We live in a wonderful community. There are many people among us who want to make it even better. There are the ones who dedicate their time to a local charity or cause, or fundraise. And then there are those who just drop in, out of the blue, and make the most amazing difference like Linn and Bruce Caplan. When we took part in the Oakville Half Marathon, Linn signed up as a 10K walker... and what a power walker she turned out to be. Asking countless friends and neighbours -- and her husband Bruce Caplan -- to sponsor her, she became the largest individual fundraiser in the run. Having received a cash donation from Bruce, she went back for more: roping him in to sponsor our team T-shirts. Turns out Bruce is also a knight with the The Canadian Million Dollar Round Table Foundation. (CMDRT) so, with a little encouragement from Linn, no doubt, he guided Lighthouse through the application process and came | photo by Michael Ivanin - special to the Beaver DANIEL BAIRD Managing Editor ANGELA BLACKBURN RIZIERO VERTOLLI Photography Director Business Manager Director of Production back with a $5,000 donation to support our peer-support groups. And just today (Dec. 16), as they came to drop off the CMDRT donation, they were curious to nd out how they could help next year. Just like that -- no public recognition, no razzle dazzle -- just because Linn and Bruce care about the community they live in and make use of their talents and skills and their time so that the world around them becomes a better place. Thank you to the Caplans from the Lighthouse community. We are profoundly grateful. If you too would like to add your support, through a donation, as a volunteer, or a facilitator, please contact us at info@ grievingchildrenlighthouse.org or www. grievingchildrenlighthouse.org. Britta Martini-Miles, executive director, The Lighthouse for Grieving Children SANDY PARE MARK DILLS MANUEL GARCIA Production Manager Director of Distribution CHARLENE HALL KIM MOSSMAN Circulation Manager Proud official media sponsor for: Canadian Circulations Audit Board Member Recognized for Excellence by Ontario Community Newspapers Association Canadian Community Newspapers Association Family seeks Good Samaritan to say proper thank you On the evening of Thursday, Dec 12, my son and I were at Oakville Place. After we returned home, my daughter answered the door to a man who returned my son's wallet, which we apparently dropped at the mall. The man (and his wife who was in the car) went out of their way to look up my son's address so they could promptly return the wallet (rather than leaving it at the Lost and Found) in case my son became anxious about the loss. (There were a lot of gift cards and $55 in the wallet.) My son, Matthew, is 10 years old and had no identi cation in his wallet. Just his scribbled signature on the back of a bank card we just got him, and my husband's old, expired Home Depot card. The Home Depot card had my husband's name and signature, which we assume the gentleman used to look us up. I wasn't able to get to the door before the gentleman left. While my daughter thanked him, my husband and I would like to extend a special thank you to this man, and the only way I could think of to reach him was through our local paper. I'm assuming he is from Oakville and am hoping that if you run this letter, he will see it and contact us so we can thank him properly. Myrva Darroch, Oakville Proud official media sponsor for: OPC Ontario Press Council Defending principles to inspire public trust The Oakville Beaver welcomes letters from its readers. Letters will be edited for clarity, length, legal considerations and grammar. In order to be published all letters must contain the name, address and phone number of the author. Letters should be addressed to: The Editor, Oakville Beaver, 467 Speers Rd., Oakville ON, L6K 3S4, or via e-mail to; ablackburn@oakvillebeaver.com. The Beaver reserves the right to refuse to publish a letter. The Oakville Beaver is a member of the Ontario Press Council. The council is located at 80 Gould St., Suite 206, Toronto, Ont., M5B 2M7. Phone 416-340-1981. Advertising is accepted on the condition that, in the event of a typographical error, that portion of advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged for, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. The publisher reserves the right to categorize advertisements or decline.