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10 - The Oakville Beaver, Tuesday December 23, 2008 www.oakvillebeaver.com We all have to ask for help now and then Continued from page 5 and managed to raise her two sons, now aged 16 and 14. Two accidents, within the same month, several years ago, left Dawn on disability and then on Canada Pension. Her income, however, is a little slim to support herself and her sons. She does it, but sometimes food or extra cash is in short supply. Backpacks, lunches and winter apparel is a tough grind for Dawn. "I've been struggling to raise my sons. Their father and I broke up when they were very young and I just wanted to do it. I wanted to raise them and thought I can do "I was surprised myself. When I came to Oakville, I thought, `This is going to be the best social work job in the world." Angela Saunders, Social worker, Halton District School Board Happy Holiday from Escape to a World of Comfort To place your ad here call Oakville Beaver at 905-845-3824 "MASONRY & FIREPLACE DESIGN SPECIALISTS" w w w. c o b b l e s t o n e m b e r s . c a 406 SPEERS RD., OAKVILLE ACROSS FROM RONA LANSING 905-337-2066 Nevertheless, Saunders said that while there is want in town, there is also extreme generosity. She said just recently a person came into the school with a $250 cheque for the school's Angel Fund and said do something with Angela Saunders the money to help a student in this and stand on my own two need. feet," said Dawn. Saunders who has been in The mother of two touts what is social work for 12 years said the billed the dignity of the program. Barriers to Learning program is She said she has gone to the one of the best she's seen in grocery story with a voucher from action. a food bank and when it is presentShe said Pat Wright, executive ed, it is received with the words, director of the Halton Learning "I've got a food voucher here." Foundation, is very accessible and "It can be really hard to ask for the program is very personal, puthelp, swallowing your pride, but I ting help into the hands of those need help because I can't do it by who need it without lots of adminmyself," said Dawn with a tear in istration and bureaucracy or "fluff" her eye. as Saunders calls it. This is not the Oakville most Saunders recalled the case of a people have stereotyped. 16-year-old student who she "I was surprised myself. When I found sitting in her school office came to Oakville, I thought this is when she arrived at 7:30 one going to be the best social work job morning. in the world," said Saunders. The girl's mom was an addict living in Ottawa and committed suicide. The girl was sitting in Saunders' office not knowing what to do. A call to Wright and Saunders said the girl, who had "just shut down" over the circumstance was on her way to put closure to her mother's life to be able to get on with her own. Yet, another student couldn't afford to continue attending school so through the fund, she was set up with a co-op placement that paid her and she graduated last year. "She's now studying an ECE course at college. She never thought she'd graduate," said Saunders. For more information or to contact the Halton Learning Foundation, call Wright at 905335-3665, ext. 3207, e-mail wrightp@hdsb.ca or visit hlf.hdsb.ca. Polar bears ready to plunge 1450 Litchfield Road The 24th annual Courage Brothers' Polar Bear Dip for World Vision will take place on New Year's Day at Coronation Park. This year's event is raising funds for water projects in developing countries -- with a fundraising goal of $60,000. The proceeds of Canada's largest charitable polar bear dip will benefit the people of Kahi in the Umutara region of Rwanda. Persistent droughts in the Umutara region have left the majority of the population without reliable access to safe water. Just one in three families in the region draw water from a protected source. The remainder of the population relies on contaminated water collected from shallow hand-dug wells, swamps and ponds. As a result, hundreds of children regularly suffer from recurring water-borne diseases. The shortage of water also has a damaging impact on a child's future. As children are the principal fetchers of water and must walk long distances each day carrying heavy containers. Children often miss school classes, or find themselves too tired to concentrate on their studies. Without an opportunity to complete their education, children cannot gain the skills they need to reach their potential. This New Year's Day, the annual Polar Bear Dip in Oakville will provide funds to: · drill new wells · build reservoirs · establish rainwater collection facilities that can be used to irrigate vegetable gardens · establish sanitary conditions in homes Dip Day, of course, is Thursday, Jan. 1 at Coronation Park in Oakville (Lakeshore Road between Third Line and Fourth Line. The event began 23 years ago on a dare between family and friends and has now become an expected yearly tradition for hundreds of dippers and thousands of spectators. The 2009 Polar Bear Dip celebrates its 24th anniversary and the 14th year of working with World Vision Canada. This year's fundraising will train the Rwandan community to protect its water resources, establish good sanitary conditions, drill new wells and build reservoirs to bring safe water closer to the people of Kahi in the Umutara region of Rwanda. Anyone who wants to help can do so by becoming a sponsor or become a polar bear. Dippers pay a $25 registration fee and are encouraged to gather pledges from friends and family. Every $100 raised equals one ballot for the grand prize draw. Others can donate online at www.polarbeardip.ca. Last year, the event raised $60,000 for South Darfur, Sudan. In 2007, $40,000 was raised raised for the Kandiaye & Saré Yéroyel Communities in Senegal. In 2006, $35,000 was raised for the Masima community in Kenya while $60,000 was raised for tsunami relief in 2005 and $20,000 was raised in 2004 for Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Zambia and Uganda. For more information, visit www.polarbeardip.ca. (off Trafalgar Rd., south of Upper Middle Rd.) (905) 845-8351 www.stsimon.ca 4:30 pm ­ Family Service, includes Communion and a special children's talk 8:00 pm & 11:00 pm ­ Traditional Christmas m Eve Celebration Thurs., Dec. 25 ­ Christmas Day 10:00 am ­ Communion Service m Sun., Jan. 4 ­ Epiphany 7:30 pm ­ Epiphany Carol Service m Please Join Us! DENTURES tarting at S 379 905-815-8208 LIMITED TIME OFFER $