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HLF needs help to Light the Way for students by Kathy Yanchus Metroland West Media 7 | Thursday, December 18, 2014 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com This Christmas, the Halton Learning Foundation (HLF) is hoping you can `light the way' for area students in need. Of the more than 60,000 students attending Halton District School Board schools, it is estimated 6,000 of them are living at or below the poverty line, according to HLF stats. Through the HLF's third annual Light the Way Campaign this Christmas, you can help students by providing the basic necessities to allow them to continue to attend school and enable them to have equal opportunities for participation and success. Light the Way's proceeds support the HLF's Eliminating Barriers Fund, which provides emergency funding to help children in times of need by covering the cost of items ranging from proper clothing to daily hot lunches and field trip fees. Light the Way gifts can be selected from the Light the Way catalogue, which is available by visiting www.haltonlearningfoundation.ca The site also includes a video which shows the impact of your gift. Need is growing "This school year, Halton Learning Foundation has seen a rise in need of nearly 50 per cent. We anticipate that nearly 2,000 students will require help from the Eliminating Barriers Fund before the end of this school year," said Lesley Mansfield, HLF executive director. "This holiday season, we have doubled the goal to assist 1,000 students through this campaign." Here's what a donation achieves: Through the campaign, a $25 contribution gives a student the basic school supplies; a $50 gift provides a winter coat, boots, mittens or gloves and a hat; a $100 gift gives a student faced with financial challenges or emergency situations (such as escape from domestic violence, house fires, abandonment, homelessness) an emergency kit of clothing and hygiene items ­ kits that are available immediately; a $250 gift ensures that a student has a hot lunch every school day and a $500 gift allows 25 students to participate in field trips and experiential learning activities. This school year, Halton Learning Foundation has seen a rise in need of nearly 50 per cent. We anticipate that nearly 2,000 students will require help from the Eliminating Barriers Fund before the end of this school year. This holiday season, we have doubled the goal to assist 1,000 students through this campaign. Lesley Mansfield shared with HLF that including a local studentin-need on their gift list and on their family gift list has tremendous meaning. They are helping the child down the street and they are strengthening the community by helping to support students in achieving their education, even if simply by helping to remove an economic barrier, often beyond their control, that may be preventing them from attending school regularly." Thanks to the good work of many organizations, awareness of the need -- even in an affluent community such as Oakville -- and the support of the community in Halton Region is growing, she said. For students, school is their community, their safe-zone, said Mansfield. Providing assistance when it is vital "It is where they can confidentially seek assistance. The Eliminating Barriers Fund and the Light the Way campaign provide much needed assistance, at times vital assistance, to students through their trusted channel ­ school. Assistance is often provided the same day as the request from their principal or social worker comes in to the HLF offices." Halton Learning Foundation is incorporated as a registered charity and as an independent body collaborating with the Halton District School Board. see HLF on p.9 Halton Learning Foundation director "Each year, the Light the Way campaign grows," said Mansfield. "Many donors have Pool table clearance sale!!! hardwood tables 4' X 8' HARDWOOD SLATE POOL TABLE Reg. $2999 Floor Model $ *FLOOR MODELS *ScRATcH & DENTS *ONE OF A KIND* All priced to cleAr BARS 1499 BAR STOOLS PUB TABLE POkER TABLES Sometimes the best presents don't come in a box. Your local Tim Hortons invites you to a Free Holiday Skate. It's our way of saying thank you and happy holidays. Pick up a schedule of ice times and locations from a Tim Hortons in Oakville, or visit www.timhortons.com. Pools | Spas | Billiards 504 IROQUOIS SHORE RD. UNIT #1, OAKVILLE www.leisureindustries.ca 905.815.5252 *Limited Time Offer. No Dealers Please. Quantities Limited. Not Applicable On Prior Sales Orders. Restrictions Apply, Check in store for details. Product may not be exactly as shown. © Tim Hortons, 2010