CHRISTMAS IN GRAVENHURST -

TIME TO STAND BACK, HOPE FOR THE BEST, AND LET THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT FREE

ANDREW AND ROBERT ARE TIDYING UP THE FINAL REHEARSALS FOR OUR SATURDAY EVENING FUNDRAISER, AT THE GRAVENHURST OPERA HOUSE…..IN SUPPORT OF THE SALVATION ARMY FOOD BANK. WE HAVE BEEN GETTING A FEW SPONSORS…..NOT AS MANY AS WE HAD HOPED FOR….BUT TIMES ARE A LITTLE TOUGHER THIS YEAR THAN LAST, FOR SOME OF OUR FORMER CONTRIBUTORS. WE UNDERSTAND THIS….AND WE WILL NEVER PRESSURE ANYONE TO HELP US OUT. WE WANT FOLKS TO COME OUT TO THE SHOW, EVEN IF THEY CAN'T AFFORD A DONATION. IT'S CHRISTMAS, AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO US……THE MUSICIANS AND HELPERS OF THIS ANNUAL SHOW, TO LOOK OUT ON THAT AUDIENCE, AND SEE MORE PEOPLE THAN EMPTY SEATS. IT IS AFTER ALL, A SHOW OF SUPPORT FOR THE SALVATION ARMY, THAT WORKS SO HARD AND LONG, TO KEEP THE FOOD BANK OPEN AND THE SHELVES STOCKED, FOR THOSE FACING HARD TIMES.

I have talked with a few people this past autumn season, who had some different ideas about social welfare, and the need for such things as food banks. Instead of turning away, or arguing with them, I listened to their point of view. As a reporter at heart, I have always paid attention to all sides of the story. As I have heard many times, as I came from a family of meagre income, "if there are no food banks, those who need them will find ways of surviving." If there is a withdrawal of social assistance payments, resourcefulness will blossom out of necessity. Some see it from a perspective, altered by the fact they have never needed a food bank, or had to plea their case for social assistance to feed their families; known the panic to keep a roof over their family due to unforeseen circumstance. Even as children, they had not required the assistance of any one but their own family to survive. And that's wonderful. But those who have started from difficult financial circumstances, and have arrived in later life, to be of much better financial means, know full well, how gratifying it is to succeed, but how devastatingly difficult the climb. Some never make it up the ladder. For many reasons, health being a major factor, there are those who, at absolutely no fault of their own, or shortage of ambition to succeed, must deal with the realities they are dealt. Much is insurmountable, though many critics from afar, seem distant from these realities, because they have never been seriously exposed……or walked a mile in those shoes, of someone in need of assistance, and a little compassion, in order to make it one more day, one more week, one more year.

Most often I restrain myself, because I'm not trying to make converts for personal credits. I have paid attention to my home district, and I would defy any of my critics to prove differently, and what I see here today, is a problem that will only get larger and more oppressive as international economic conditions slide our way. In a perfect world, where there is no poverty, no one would even think about opening a "food bank." In a less than perfect world, where so much tragedy occurs daily, the most perfect circumstance we could find ourselves in, is being able to offer a helping hand to someone in need. In my life, outside of being a proud parent, in a happy marriage, the opportunity to help others, is the least I can do……..as repayment, for all the good neighbors and kind souls my own family found, when our cupboards were bare, and both my parents found themselves unemployed…….due to layoffs, that were company-wide, not the result of job performance. And we didn't feel sorry for ourselves either, and it may have been one of our most memorable family Christmases. What we saw was life-altering. Friends and neighbors who helped us over the rough patch…..kindnesses from a small Muskoka town, that was genuinely interested in our welfare. There were no food banks then. But we received food and so much more.

While I respect those who think otherwise, I am so thankful we have the Salvation Army in our community, willing to put forth such unflinching efforts, to keep our food bank open. And from someone who has seen both sides, I will continue to support their efforts……to help our less fortunate citizens.

Please come out and enjoy the Christmas festivities, Saturday night, at the Opera House. Donations are welcome but not necessary if you can't afford to do so. Merry Christmas to you!