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9 | O akville B eaver | T hursday,June 3,2021 insidehalton.com Child Care is just around the corner! Spaces Available ymcaofoakville.org Richard Li Broker 416-402-8866 476 Kerr Street (just south of Speers Road) 905-845-2933 www.oakvilleappliance.com Visit Our 6,000 sq.ft. Design Centre: Units 2-3, 333 Wyecroft Rd., Oakville 905.844.3332 www.aromakitchens.ca info@aromakitchens.ca World Environment REIMAGINE. RECREATE. RESTORE. dAY A look at eco-friendly packaging Packaging is often needed to protect food and other types of goods from impact, moisture, bacteria and damage that could compromise the quality of the product. However, if you're an eco- conscious consumer, you should favour items made by companies that seek to minimize their environmental impact. SolutionS Many companies have designed packaging intended to minimize their carbon footprint. Often, this means opting for less and lighter packaging. In many cases, there's also an emphasis on using recyclable or renewable materials, such as: • 100 per cent recycled paper and cardboard • Biodegradable polythene film • Recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) • Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) • Recycled polystyrene foam • Bio-based materials (corn starch, cellulose, sugar cane, algae, etc.) • Sustainable inks (water-based, natural polymers, etc.) Additionally, reusable packaging is increasingly popular. This gives these containers -- be they bags, boxes or bottles -- a second life that helps keep them out of landfills and recycling centres. The next time you go shopping, take some time to consider the environmental impact of the pack- aging used for the products you want to buy.You can also consult the manufacturer's website for more information to help you make an informed decision. Katherine (Anderson) Smith was just 27 when she, a mother of three young children, lost her husband. The year was 1949, less than five years after she wed Oliver Anderson after he'd returned from the war, and the couple had bought a farm outside of Red Deer, Alberta. "She knows firsthand the effect of losing a hus- band, and father to chil- dren of a young age," said Alex Collingridge, Events & Marketing Manager for Oakville's Lighthouse for Grieving Children, an or- ganization which provides peer support for grieving children, youth and their families. Katherine's daughter Joyce recalls her mother al- ways feeling blessed to have been surrounded by extended family. She doesn't know what they would have done with- out them and now, during a time when families don't live as close by, she under- stands how Lighthouse be- comes that family of sup- port, said Joyce, adding that she has spent her en- tire life wondering what her dad was like, "always feeling the void of not knowing who he was." "Adjusting to life after a death is hard to under- stand, impossible to imag- ine," said Collingridge. "For over 20 years, Light- house for Grieving Chil- dren has been the only agency in the GTA offering open-ended peer-support groups to grieving children and their families at no cost." Today, Katherine is 99 years of age, grandmother to 11, great-grandmother to 22 and still a resilient wom- an who continues to in- spire. For 30 years she volun- teered at her local food bank, only stopping be- cause of COVID-19, she has created dozens of quilts for various charities, canned thousands of jars of jam as gifts for friends and family, and is still knitting scarves for people experiencing homelessness, said her granddaughter Sandra Smith, who is a longtime volunteer for Lighthouse. An avid walker, Kather- ine, affectionately known as Great Grandma Kay, re- cently accepted a challenge from Smith to join her fundraising team for Light- house's Run4LH, a virtual event which began May 15 and continues until June 15. Funds raised will pro- vide grief support services to more than 300 children and their families each year. "She knew I was a long- time volunteer of LH, so when I asked her to join my team she jumped at the chance to help out," said Sandra. Katherine is already more than halfway to her goal of walking 100 km on her treadmill, with 66 km under her belt and $9,000 raised. "I'm happy to help the kids get the support they need," said Katherine. To participate or donate, visit https://bit.ly/3yJclOz GREAT-GRANDMOTHER GOING THE DISTANCE FOR GRIEVING KIDS Great Grandmother 'Kay' walks on her treadmill, more than half way to her goal of 100 km as she raises funds for Lighthouse for Grieving Children. Smith family photo NEWS WALKING 100 KM TO RAISE FUNDS FOR LIGHTHOUSE "I'm happy to help the kids get the support they need." - Katherine (Anderson) Smith