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th ei fp .c a Th e IF P -H al to n H ill s | T hu rs da y, A ug us t 29 ,2 01 9 | 8 1 Halton Hills Drive, Halton Hills, L7G 5G2 | 905-873-2601 | 1-877-712-2205 | haltonhills.ca Metrolinx Railway Crossing Repairs The following road will be closed to through traffic from 7 p.m. on September 6, 2019 to 7 a.m. on September 9, 2019. Mill Street East (Hwy 7) betweenMain Street andWallace Street If you require any additional information regarding this road closure, please contact the Transportation & Public Works Department at 905-873-2601, Ext. 2215. NOTICE OF TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURE brilliant with beards and banterertna bdn asdraeb A stylist for everyone. FirstChoice.com Throughout the year, community members often ask us how they can best make a difference for stu- dents in need. "Is it better to donate clothing and school sup- plies or cash?" At the Halton Learning Foundation, we're grateful for this question because it reminds us there are so many individuals and busi- nesses in the Halton com- munity who want to help kids who are less fortunate. It's tempting to respond that whether you donate items or funds, you're help- ing low-income students to succeed. But there are a couple of good reasons some chari- ties prefer cash donations to help vulnerable children and families. Efficiency: Physical do- nations like clothing and school supplies need to be sorted, transported and dis- tributed, which can take more time than using cash or gift cards to purchase on- ly items that are needed. Al- though in-kind donations may be perfect for some charities, other organiza- tions do not have the space or the resources to facilitate them. For the latter, cash dona- tions can be more efficient, allowing staff to spend more time raising funds or getting help to those who need it. Suitability: Although people always have the best intentions, there is a good chance the donated sup- plies are not what's needed. With four growing kids and a minimum-wage sala- ry, Burlington mom Denise struggles every year to come up with additional funds for back-to-school items. "I don't want people to think I'm not grateful for donations, but the down- side is you get what some- one has chosen for you, and they don't know my kids. I still have to purchase many things and end up re-donat- ing what we can't use." Personal donations are even trickier. Older kids, es- pecially, just want to fit in, and they may be embar- rassed by clothing or back- packs that simply aren't suitable for them. As much fun as it can be to shop for others, when it comes to charitable dona- tions it's always best to check with your preferred charity first to see whether in-kind goods or cash dona- tions will make the most difference to those you want to help. Sherri Armstrong is the communications manager at the Halton Learning Foundation. HLF provides gift cards and subsidies for backpacks and school sup- plies, shoes and clothing, hygiene items, school lunch- es and learning opportuni- ties - whatever a student of the Halton District School Board requires to go to school prepared and excited to learn. For more informa- tion, visit haltonlearning- foundation.ca. OPINION TO GIVE OR NOT TO GIVE GOODS TO A CHARITY CASH DONATIONS MORE EFFICIENT, WRITES SHERRI ARMSTRONG SHERRI ARMSTRONG Column SIGN UP FOR OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER AT THEIFP.CA Knox Presbyterian Church. The local woman's great- great-grandfather is George Kennedy, one of George- town's founding fathers and the namesake of the town. Harlow was also well known in the Knox church commu- nity, as she sang in the church choir for an impres- sive 80 years. She raised two children alongside husband Herb in Georgetown. Today, she also has three grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and one great-great-grand- child. The centenarian current- ly resides at Mountainview Residence, which marked her milestone birthday with an open house celebration. A lifelong Georgetown resident has been alive for a century and counting. Elma Harlow celebrated her 100th birthday on Aug. 23, and a party was thrown in her ho- nour the following day at COMMUNITY RELATIVE OF GEORGETOWN FOUNDER CELEBRATES 100TH BIRTHDAY Georgetown's Elma Harlow, surrounded by her family, receives a plaque in recognition of her 100th birthday from local councillor Bryan Lewis. Ray Lavender photo MELANIE HENNESSEY mhennessey@ metroland.com