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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday June 4, 2008 - 19 Helping in the community Continued from page 18 upscale items here." Tyre said the shop is great hunting ground for thespians about to stage productions at the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts. "I feel good about what's being done. I'm proud to be an Angela Bruce member. We're good, we've done a lot," said Harrison. The group has not only become a mainstay in town through its shop, but also the dollars it has doled out. Lining the walls of the IODE Opportunity Shop at the corner of Kerr and Rebecca streets, are the many awards the group, which now numbers 70 members, has picked up over the years. It has given thousands of dollars to many, many community groups. Among the recipients are: Fareshare Food Bank, Halton Women's Place, Halton Helping Hands, Sleeping Children Around the World, Home Emergency Life Line, Oakville Seniors' centres, the Victorian Order of Nurses (VON, now Acclaim Health), Salvation Army Christmas Fund, Oakville Trauma Centre, White Oaks Futures program, Prevention of Child Abuse, Ian Anderson House and more. In 1998, it fulfilled a five-year pledge to donate $37,500 to Oakville-Trafalgar Memorial Hospital's for new equipment. It takes an interest in projects related to hospitals, food programs; community services, scholarships and citizenship. At one point the IODE threw a party for newcomers to Canada -- Tyre remembers having to give a speech at one of them. Today it does a lot in the way of local scholarships. It hands out bursaries worth $18,000 in total to all Oakville high schools and to Sheridan College Adult Continuing Education. "We don't do it based on academics," said Tyre, but to address financial need. Some bequests left to the chapter have also enabled it to do a lot more than otherwise it could in the area of scholarships. "I feel good about what's being done. I'm proud to be an Angela Bruce member. We're good, we've done a lot." Iris Harrison, IODE member At its roots, the IODE Angela Bruce Chapter is a Canadian women's volunteer organization that aims to improve quality of life for children, youths, and those in need. It does so through educational, social service and citizenship programs. It raises most of its funds through the 154 Kerr St. Opportunity Shop that operates noon to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturdays. It's closed Sundays. The IODE Opportunity Shop sells used items, is staffed by volunteers and accepts donations of used clothing (men's, women's), dishes, small electrical appliances, small household items, books, ladies' accessories, white elephants and jewellery. The IODE was founded in 1900 by Margaret Polson Murray of Montreal who recognized a need for loyal support for Canadians departing to fight with the Empire forces in South Africa. She encouraged the formation of a federation of women to promote patriotism, loyalty and service to others by sending telegrams to the mayors of Canada's major cities urging them to call together prominent women of the communities. In 1933, Oakville resident Helen New, wife of Ryland New, a Canadian businessman and owner of Thoroughbred racehorses, founded the local IODE chapter. It was named Angela Bruce in honour of the wife of the then lieutenant governor of Ontario. Angela Bruce attended the initial meeting that elected officers. "I don't think there's anyone left who was one of those first officers," said Tyre. Marjorie Smith however is still a member. She's 96 years old. Tyre said the local IODE shop was first located on Lakeshore Road and Robinson Street, then near where the present day Bookers is located. It then moved to Kerr Street and finally Kerr and Rebecca. It has supported numerous charities over the years, including a few further afield, schools for Native Indians, such as its adopted school in Natuashish, Labrador. With meetings once a month at St. John's United Church, in the afternoon, it's tough for younger working women to attend. The same goes for volunteering at the shop, except for Saturdays. Still there are a few young women involved and many others who are recently retired. "If people are retiring and they're looking for something to do, this takes some time, but not too much," said chapter president Barbara Hopton. Anyone interested can contact membership chair Gail McDiarmid at 905-274-5735. Relay for Life set for Friday It is time to circle the track at Appleby College again -- in Relay for Life 2008. The signature fundraiser for the Canadian Cancer Society, Oakville Unit is ready to roll on Friday. It will officially get underway at 7 p.m. Shortly before then, teams will arrive at the grounds of the private school on the Lake Ontario shoreline -- ready to set up camp, relay around the track all night, shed a tear, share moments of strength and raise funds to continue the fight against cancer and research of a cure. Gearing up for its seventh year in Oakville, the 2008 event is expected to be one of the largest to date. Relay For Life is an overnight, noncompetitive relay that will see participants walk, run or stroll around the track at Appleby College from 7 p.m. Friday, June 6 to 7 a.m. Saturday, June 7. Last year the event raised more than $533,000 for cancer research and support. For information, visit www.cancer.ca/relay or call 905-845-5231. Halton's Best Kept Secret is Out!! 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