CO h~O CN v H 00 CN CD _Q S p o tlig h t " C o n n e c te d to y o u r C o m m u n ity " £ CD O ft? TD (f) Kerr Street Mission gets $5K donation from IBC by David Lea Oakville Beaver Staff U J LU < o £ o q c! o -t-- SZ "O (f) c CD CD Christmas came early for Oakville' s Kerr Street Mission (KSM) on Tuesday, Dec. 19 w hen the charity received a $5,000 donation from the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC). Kim Donaldson, Vice-President of the Ontario IBC, presented a cheque to Kerr Street Mission Executive Director Gary O'Neill during an informal ceremony within the mission' s packed dining room. Oakville MPP and Minister of Labour Kevin Flynn, w ho recommended the charity to the IBC, was also present. Kerr Street Mission provides valuable services and support to low-incom e families, at-risk youth and other organizations that support vulnerable members of the community. Donaldson said the IBC is eager to support local charities and noted KSM is dehnitely deserving of that support. "Kerr Street Mission has been here for more than 20 years. You do excellent work providing support and meals to families," she said. "The songs tell us this time of year is hlled w ith joy and light, but there is also a lot of stress and anxiety and I know the Kerr Street Mission is here for you in that kind o f fraught environment." O'Neill said the m oney w ould be used to carry out important renovations in the facility' s kitchen, w hich will allow it to continue to serve the needy in the comm unity "W e serve about 25,000 meals a year and then there are snacks and other things," he said. "This donation really w ill make a big difference... Every littde bit helps. W e have made a com m itm ent to do renovation work over the Christmas break and you just paid the bill. I wasn't sure how w e were going to be able to do that before." The kitchen staff cheered the announcement. Flynn called the m ission an Oakville institution, w hich since 1996 has provided hope for people living in need in the community. That need, he said, is m ost keenly felt during the holiday season and the long winter months. Flynn thanked the IBC for providing m uch needed funds that w ill allow the mission to continue to helping local residents rise above their circumstances and restore their lives. "I notice w hen I com e in that Kerr Street has one of best kitchens that I have seen anywhere. Ontario Labour Minister and Oakville MPP Kevin Flynn, centre left, Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) Ontario Vice President Kim Donaldson and Kerr Street Mission (KSM) Executive Director Gary O'Neill, along with members of the mission's kitchen staff celebrate the IBC's donation of $5,000 to KSM. | David Lea/Metroland It rivals any restaurant in town, but as with anything else w e know that it needs a littde bit o f work from time to time. If the kitchen doesn't work, the rest o f this room doesn't work. There w ould be no food, no one preparing food," said Flynn. "This generous donation from the IBC is in keeping w ith the kindness w e see from so many individuals, families and businesses at this wonderful time o f year." The IBC is the national industry association representing Canada' s private hom e, auto and business insurers. Its member companies make up 90 per cent o f the property and casualty insurance market in Canada. The group has worked w ith governments across the country for more than 50 years in an effort to make affordable hom e, auto and business insurance available. Gary O'NeiN Ontario Labour Minister /O akville MPP Kevin Flynn LLE · m e t r o la n d m e d ia JL Defending principles lo inspire public trust Ontario Press Council Beaver. Volume 55 | Number 76 5046 M ain w ay, U n it 2, B u rlin g to n (905) 845-3824 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 allow ance 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 adver tisements or decline. Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is pro tected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. Executive Vice President Torstar & President of Community Brands Neil Oliver Advertising Director Daniel Baird / dbaird@metroland.com / 289 -2 9 3-0 6 2 4 M anaging Editor Angela Blackburn / editor@oakvillebeaver.com / 289 -2 9 3-0 6 1 7 Regional General M anager Kelly Montague kmontague@metroland.com / 289 -2 9 3-0 6 1 4 Director of Distribution Charlene Hall / chall@metroland.com / 905 -6 3 1-6 0 9 5