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OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, October 16, 2009 · 16 Helping at home O akville is a wonderful place to live, but we are not immune to our share of problems. The Oakville Community Foundation (OCF) has released the 2009 Vital Signs report -- a report card for Oakville. Oakville received numerous grades, averaging in the B to C range. However, one area identified as needing immediate improvement was the category the Gap between Rich and Poor. Oakville received a D. Since Oakville is essentially a wealthy community, the extent of poverty here often goes unnoticed. The report states approximately 10 per cent of people in Oakville live below the poverty line. This is a major concern, especially among seniors and single parents. What's worse, between 2001 and 2006 in Halton, there was a 44 per cent increase in the number of families living below the poverty line. During the same time, Ontario only saw a seven per cent increase and Canada only saw a four per cent increase. We need to rectify this problem and you can help. United Way of Oakville (UWO) supports our community through four funding priorities -- strengthening families, supporting independence and well-being in seniors, supporting those in crisis and promoting self-sufficiency -- to ensure we are having the maximum impact in the community. UWO supports 30,000 people right here in Oakville. It is our community, family members, friends, co-workers and neighbours that we are helping. Your donations make a difference. Through our agencies, an abused woman and her child can find a safe place to live, a child receives breakfast at school when his family cannot provide one at home and a senior receives regular visits so she doesn't feel lonely and isolated. These are just some of the ways you are impacting lives. Help us make Oakville an even better place to live. For more information on how you can get involved, visit our website at www.uwoakville.org or call 905-845-5571. -- Submitted by UWO