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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, March 18, 2016 | 6 Whether it's an apartment re in Oakville or an earthquake in Haiti, the Red Cross knows no bounds. The Canadian Red Cross, part of a global humanitarian network, is there when disaster strikes. With boots on the ground, the active charitable organization is best known for its ability to promptly mobilize aid workers and volunteers in times of need. It provides access to food and water, shelter and clothing and offers services and assistance when people need it most. As March is Red Cross Month, we see it t to highlight some of the non-pro t organization's good work here -- and abroad. According to the Canadian branch -- one of 187 National Societies -- the Red Cross responds to disasters every three hours. And since the rst 72 hours are most critical in a disaster, volunteers waste no time rolling out emergency relief plans. In 2014, the Red Cross responded to 317 natural disasters, which affected more than 100 million people. To put that number in perspective, it's about three times the Canadian population. It managed to do so successfully thanks to the help of some 6,000 disaster response volunteers, who are ready to answer the call of duty anytime, anywhere. While the organization's humanitarian efforts have a tremendous impact overseas, the Red Cross also does remarkable work right here at home. And it does so daily. A number of programs are geared towards seniors, like its transportation service. Day in and day out, the Red Cross offers older adults or those living with disabilities the opportunity to go grocery shopping, attend a doctor's appointment, visit family or pick up a prescription. It also helps get people back on their feet by loaning them mobility aids, such as wheelchairs, crutches and walkers. In 2014, more than 270,000 Canadians bene tted from the mobility aid loaner program. The Red Cross, according to its website, takes pride in helping to save lives. That's why it's considered a world leader in rst-aid training -- a status it has maintained for more than ve decades. The Red Cross' work -- locally and internationally -- must be commended, especially considering the non-pro t organization supported 1,293 communities and managed projects in 30 countries in 2014 alone. These have included conducting primary healthcare training, implementing water and sanitation programs, landmine education and aid worker training. These initiatives are in addition to the Red Cross' 68 emergency relief operations in 55 countries, including Syria, Sierra Leon and Nepal. Here at home, many of us are lucky to never have had experienced a natural disaster or needed the Red Cross' assistance. But should that time ever come, it's comforting to know that we're in good hands. Emergency relief when it's needed Editorial C E L E B R A T I N G F I V E "Connected to your Community" G E N E R A T I O N S On Feb. 29, resident Kim Dekoning's great nephew, Cody James Maclennan, was born at the new Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital. Not only did he surprise his entire family by arriving early and becoming a "leap year baby," but he also became a member of the fth generation in his family -- all of which have lived in Oakville for more than 50 years. Pictured are: Mary Fenech, Cody's great, great grandmother (seated holding Cody); while great grandmother Rosanne Fenech stands proudly behind, grandmother Christine de Koning (at left) and mother Samantha Drexler (at right) look on. | photo submitted by Kim Dekoning 5046 Mainway, Unit 2, Burlington ON L7L 5Z1 General Inquiries: (905) 845-3824 Classi ed Advertising: (905) 632-4440 Circulation: 5300 Harvester Rd., Burlington (905) 631-6095 Volume 54 | Number 23 The Oakville Beaver is a division of Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. Vice­President and Group Publisher of Metroland West Regional General Manager Advertising Director NEIL OLIVER KELLY MONTAGUE DANIEL BAIRD Managing Editor ANGELA BLACKBURN RIZIERO VERTOLLI Photography Director Business Manager LORI ANN GZOVDANOVIC Director of Production MARK DILLS MANUEL GARCIA Production Manager Director of Distribution CHARLENE HALL KIM MOSSMAN Circulation Manager Resident wants solution to ruined yard I look after the Boulevard in front and at the side of my house -- for nine months out of the 12 -- only to nish up with this mess every spring. My kind neighbour clears my sidewalks after every snowfall, then the sidewalk-snowplow comes and `clears' the clean sidewalk and leaves it looking like this -- year after year. When I call the Town, they promise to send someone out to x it, but I have yet to see that. I wonder just how many gardens these `snowplow guys' ruin, every winter? Can they not see where the grass meets the sidewalk... when a sidewalk is clean? Could they not lift the `scraper'? How would they like it, if someone did this to their lawn every year, without fail? What is the answer? Sally Bettinson, Oakville Letter to the Editor Proud Official Media Sponsor For: Canadian Circulations Audit Board Member Recognized for Excellence by Ontario Community Newspapers Association Canadian Community Newspapers Association Proud Official Media Sponsor For: | photo submitted by Sally Bettinson 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, 5046 Mainway, Unit 2, Burlington ON L7L 5Z1 or via email 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.