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continued from p.5 ErinoakKids makes overcoming challenges less daunting well with," said McKinnon. "They say it takes a community to raise a child and I think that's very true for Spencer. He has such a huge support group." Recipients of the 2014 Pride & Joy Awards: · Little Acorn Award: Jayesh Kumar (Mississauga) · Branching Out Award: Spencer Morgan (Oakville) · Mighty Oak Award: Tien Hoang (Brampton) · Tall Tree Award: Dan Blocka · Deep Roots Award: Mississauga Fire Fighters Association Benevolent Fund, Local 1212 Also presented at the awards was the inaugural Sean and Lynne Seawright Scholarship Award. Given to Kelsey LeCoure, the $5,000 scholarship supports the post-secondary education of students who are current clients or graduates of ErinoakKids. The Pride & Joy Awards also raised funds to support the ErinoakKids' redevelopment project -- enabling the group to consolidate its current spaces into three new state-ofthe-art centres in Oakville, Mississauga and Brampton. For more information, visit www. erinoakkids.ca. 9 | Friday, October 31, 2014 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com "We had many harrowing moments, but not the least of which was the challenge of coming home after nine months of almost daily support. Leaving the sanctuary of Bloorview, we felt like we were heading into the great unknown," said McKinnon. Spencer's biggest challenge has been his communication, McKinnon said, adding he has "a lot of things he wants to say and share with us, but he can't form the words very easily." "We're using a device called a Vantage that he uses to communicate. It's like learning a brand new language. The therapists at ADRS at ErinoakKids have been irreplaceable in training us, his school and his therapists in learning this device that he's doing really ZombieWeen Bash benefits Fare Share Fiftie's Diner is planning a scary night to benefit the Fare Share food bank. The ZombieWeen Bash, held at the 649 Fourth Line diner, is set for Saturday (Nov. 1) from 8 p.m. until "the witching hour" (midnight), stated a press release. The evening will be hosted by Voo Doo Daddy, and includes a costume contest, DJ, dancing, buffet, and cash bar. Those who attend must be aged 19 or older and costumes are required. Party-goers are also encouraged to bring in any non-perishable food items to be donated to Fare Share -- cash donations will also be accepted directly by a food bank representative. Tickets cost $20, are limited, and available at the Fiftie's Diner. If you've been fortunate enough to have a stranger pay for your coffee, or returned home after a snowstorm to find that someone has already shoveled your driveway , you know how much you appreciated the simple act of someone doing something nice. Next Friday is your chance to give someone else that same feeling. Friday, Nov. 7 is the Oakville Community Foundation's (OCF) fourth annual Random Act of Kindness (RAK) Day. The foundation and its partners are encouraging citizens to take some time by doing simple, positive acts to help brighten someone's day. Through RAK Day, residents are encouraged to think about and put into practice the kind of things they want in the community in which they live. To get involved in RAK Day, you can join a kindness crew, a small team of ambassadors that will get together to help out with meaningful ac- Don't forget to be nice on RAK Day tivities in Oakville. If you know an individual, organization or group that could benefit from a kindness crew, visit www.theocf. org and go to the Random Acts of Kindness Day section. The OCF will do its best to accommodate all requests. Or you can simply do something nice for a friend, neighbour or total stranger. Partnering with the Oakville Community Foundation for RAK Day are the Oakville United Way, YMCA of Oakville, the Halton Catholic District School Board, the Oakville Chamber of Commerce, Tourism Oakville, Appleby College, the Halton District School Board, the Oakville Beaver and the Oakville Hospital Foundation. You can also visit the OCF's Facebook page for more information on the organization's activities. ­ submitted by the Oakville Community Foundation