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While most of Halton's half- million residents enjoy a high quality of life, there are others who are not as fortunate and they are all around us. You might not pay much at- tention to the young couple ahead of you in the early morn- ing coffee line up, unaware they are destitute, their meagre be- longings piled in a shopping cart outside. You barely notice an obscure motel in your community, but it's home to a very sick man who does odd jobs for a small discount in rent, while battling cancer and living off gift cards to supply him with liquid nutrition. Without knowing, you might pass a nondescript house in your neighbourhood on an evening stroll, where a homeless couple is sheltered in the garage, com- pletely dependent on donations and the kindness of the home- owner. Perhaps you're seated near a frail elderly woman in church, who unbeknownst to you has been robbed of her estate by a rel- ative and forced to seek help for the basics of life from complete strangers. It is for these people and hun- dreds of others with similar heartbreaking stories that the Compassion Society is needed "as we are non-discriminatory, non-judgmental, not-faith-based and inclusive." One client with a particularly heart-wrenching immigrant sto- ry wrote Khawari this note of thanks: "I am so grateful because without the foods and supplies they are giving. I don't know how can we survive. It is such a relief to my mental, physical and finan- cial stress. We can't thank you one by one, but I hope this mes- sage will reach you all." Before the pandemic hit, the Compassion Society's client base was 600 active recipients. Not all need help every week, but the fallout from COVID-19 has meant an uptick in numbers. Since April, approximately 290 families have been using the services of the Compassion Soci- ety and as the countdown to Christmas begins, the struggle to raise funds to support the now more than 300 families through the holiday season, is underway. "We're not a Christmas pro- gram; we are here for help throughout the year," said Kha- wari. "The Christmas program is basically for the families who come to us throughout the year." Others who come in search of help specifically for the holiday, are referred to the many organi- zations in the region who offer Christmas programs, such as the Salvation Army, she said. This season, the Compassion Society's annual Christmas mar- ket program has been revised. Clients will instead receive retail gift cards in the amount of $50 for small families (three people and under) and $100 for larger fami- lies (four people and up), and these will be given out over two weeks in December. The Compassion Society has also partnered with several other organizations, both local and re- gional, to meet the needs of indi- viduals and families this Christ- mas. For example, although the Compassion Society is collecting toys in bins outside its office, the Salvation Army outlets in Bur- lington, Oakville, Milton, Georgetown and Acton will be distributing the toys to families in need in their respective com- munities. Compassion Society gift cards will be accepted through Decem- ber. Monetary donations are also welcome by going to www.cana- dahelps.org/en/giv3/97839. Hours of the Compassion So- ciety, located at 484 Plains Rd. E., are Monday, Wednesday and Fri- day, from noon to 2 p.m. Visit www.compassionsocie- tyofhalton.com for more infor- mation, or call 905-592-3722. STORY BEHIND THE STORY: With the pandemic am- plifying the needs of vulnerable local residents, we wanted to shine a light on how the Compas- sion Society of Halton is helping the less fortunate living among the affluent of the region NEWS Continued from page 3 PANDEMIC INCREASING CHARITY'S CLIENT BASE