21 · OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, October 2, 2009 Food crises growing THE OXFORD DIFFERENCE BETTER GRADES ARE MORE IMPORTANT IN TOUGH TIMES Tough economic times are afoot. Today's current economic climate means that most families are tightening their belts and eliminating the extras. The luxuries are the first to go: the dinners out, the extra car, the additional cable stations. Whether you are in Canada, the US, Europe, or South America, the one thing that isn't seen as expendable is education. After all, there is only one sure-fire solution to riding the wave of uncertainty for the future... a better education for our children. We want to protect and insulate our children from the hardships in life, and the best way to ensure that this happens is by ensuring that they are receiving a quality education that will help them reach their potential and secure their footing to be successful in any economic climate. While many businesses suffer due to an economic downturn, services that focus on education continue to thrive as parents prioritize their needs and consider what they can do to ensure that their child's future is better and more secure. Education is the best way to make certain that today's children have a stable future to look forward to. Whether it is aiming for an ivy-league education for the future, or developing an aggressive approach to making the most of your child's current educational situation, the sooner that children secure the basic academic skills, the better their chance becomes of having a smoother transition into higher education. Even as early as the elementary level, children are developing core skills such as reading, math, and comprehension that are the Continued from page 19 All volunteers will work in teams. Having a vehicle is not a necessity, as those without a vehicle will be teamed up with those who do have one. The Salvation Army will try to co-ordinate volunteers with areas close to home, if possible. Chaney said the Salvation Army is putting out a word of caution in regard to its food drive. When people are going through cupboards for non-perishable foods, they should be aware that even non-perishable items have expiry dates. When donations are sorted, they will be sorted according to those dates, with earlier dates the first to be distributed throughout the year. However, any foods with an expiry date past due are required by health regulations, to be disposed of rather than distributed to those in need. The Salvation Army is asking people not to donate expired goods as it leaves the church expending volunteer time to collect food and sort it and then in the lurch to dispose of the food, which cannot find its way to those in need. With shelves almost bare after the past year, Chaney said all non-perishable foods are welcome -- in particular, cereal, canned and powdered milk, canned fruit juice, canned and dry pasta, hearty soups and stews, pasta sauce, rice, peanut butter, canned tuna and meat, baby formula and diapers (sizes three and up). "We've had clients tell us they potty trained their child early because they had no choice, they didn't have diapers," said Chaney. In 2008, the Oakville Salvation Army provided "We had clients tell us they potty trained their children early because they had no choice, they didn't have diapers." Aisha Chaney, Salvation Army emergency food provisions to 1,616 children and 2, 273 adults in Oakville. With the recession striking in the latter part of 2008, Chaney said there was a 15 per cent increase in food bank use in just the first quarter of this year. With the Christmas season just around the corner, Chaney said the Salvation Army will attend to its annual food drive and then get the ball rolling for Christmas and its kettle drive. While the Salvation Army may be most recognized for its kettle drive, Chaney said it offers a host of services to those in need, from the emergency food bank to the Lighthouse Shelter. Anyone interested in volunteering for any of the food drive-associated missions, or in other ways, can call 905-827-5324, ext. 22. foundation of the academic skills and learning habits that they will continue to build on for the rest of their lives. It's never too early to begin to invest in a stable academic future. In fact, studies have shown that the earlier that young children develop strong reading and writing skills, the greater success they see in the higher grades. In high school, the earlier that students master the basic skills such as organization and time management, the greater their chances of improved grades. Better grades are the single best way to open doors to a promising academic future. Regardless if a child is in primary or secondary school, investments in academic outcomes are always a sound choice. While parents may worry about their money, an investment in a child's educational future has the highest rate of return of any assets these days. When it comes to our children's future, investment in education is always worth the venture, especially when the outcome is the best possible educational future for the next generation. It's the safest investment of all. Voted Best Learning Centre A better future for your child starts here! www.oxfordlearning.com OAKVILLE SOUTH Maple Grove Village 511 Maple Grove Dr., Suite 2, Oakville (905) 849-4027 oakvillesouth@oxfordlearning.com OAKVILLE NORTH 1131 Nottinghill Gate, Oakville (905) 469-1929 oakville@oxfordlearning.com a r p ro ud are prou d t o p re s en t .. . ou res e nt . . e n & The TMH andle gh all The OTM Candlelight Ball The OTMH Candlelight Ball Saturday ovembe th, 009 Sa urday November 7th, 200 Saturday November 7th, 2009 a u da embe h 0 Burl g o onven Bu ngton Conve tio Centre Bur ington Convention Centre u e the OTMH Candlelight Ball T The True North Oakville-Trafalgar Memorial Hospital wishes to Recognize Barrington's and Murron's Cabinetree for A New Tw is t! N ew w s t Ne w Twi st ! e their loyal support of the annual OTMH Candlelight Ball. We a re p l ea se t o p ar tn e r wi t h f a e d We are please d to pa r tner with fa m ed C a n ad i a n c h e fs re e as e a s ed a rt ne w it n ad fs Thanks to their continued generosity, members of our M ic hael Bonacini & Mark McEwan to h el p us de ve lo p a c h ae l Bo n ac in i M ar k M c Ew a n t o he lp u s d ev el o a el B o a ci n e c ar E wa w e eve o n e- of - a- k i n d c u l i na r y ex pe ri en c e d o n't miss o ut on ne-of-a-kind culinary e xp e r ie nc e - o f- a n ar experien a xp en ncommunityohave access to the highest quality ' mi ss u t n m is s s t h ex cl us iv e op po r tu t y! th i s exclusive oppo rt u n i ty ! e xc lu s v healthcare services, close to home! xc u oppo y The vital new Intensive Care Unit equipment shown here (from left to right) over-bed lift, portable ultrasound machine, ICU bed and transport monitor were purchased with the proceeds from the 2008 OTMH Candlelight Ball. 6:30pm at the Burlington Convention Centre Saturday November 7, 2009 In support of OTMH Net left c right) Brenda and is yBarrington and e Net protoeeds from thPaulyear's Candlel ht Bal wil Net proceeds from this year's Candle ight and l will e th ea ear's Candlelight Ba (From ro ed of Barrington's a Farncombe bMurray t the Diagnost c Imaging Department at OTMH benefit the DiagnosticofImaging Department at OTMH en ene and Gaye ag enefit the Diagnostic Murron's Cabinetree.men h ag ng Department n epa TM for more information please visit for more information and to purchase your tickets, please visit, www.otmhcandlelightball.com www.otmhcandlelightball.com