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11 · Thursday, December 3, 2009 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.oakvillebeaver.com Glen Abbey GOL CLUB For A Day You'll Remember... A day that starts a life together. ERIC RIEHL / SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER CHRISTMAS AT KSM: Kerr Street Ministries (KSM) is hoping to provide Christmas to more than 1,000 families through donations to its Christmas Wonders Program supported by, from left, KSM development co-ordinator Agnes Stassen, marketing manager Jodi Yeilding and Joe Drexler, a former benefactor who now operates the sponsoring Be the Game Sportswear. We invite you to take advantage of the Glen Abbey Experience. Host your Wedding Ceremony and Reception at our beautiful clubhouse that boasts panoramic views of our stunning golf course. KSM brings Christmas Wonders By Angela Blackburn OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF You may not know Agnes Stassen, but you may be familiar with the Christmas Wonders of The Christmas Lady -- if you're one of the 1,000 families that gets a little help with Christmas from Kerr Street Ministries (KSM). Stassen is heading into her seventh year of bringing Christmas to those in need through KSM's Christmas Wonders program -- to more than 1,000 of the 5,000 people who use the Kerr Street Market, KSM's food bank. Stassen sighs when she admits it's 1,000 families of the 14,000 people living below the poverty line in Oakville. "I have received phone calls at home on Christmas Eve from people who say, `We haven't got anything for Christmas,'" says Stassen, recalling, with tears in her eyes how one woman recently gave up her own spot on this year's waiting list and opened her purse instead to make a donation for other families in need. Still, there's lots of Christmas spirit in the air at KSM as the after-school, youth drop-in and other programs mark the wonder of the season with special activities. The most wondrous of all however is KSM's Christmas Wonders program, which provides a Christmas -- food and gifts -- to those who otherwise wouldn't have either. "It gives somebody feeling down and out, hope. It gave me hope," said Oakville businessman Joe Drexler, a one-time recipient of the program when his own life had spiralled out of control with a job loss and marital breakdown. He rallied, however, with assistance from KSM and now he and his company, Be The Game Sportswear, are sponsoring Christmas Wonders. Representatives will be on hand at Wal-Mart on Hays Boulevard this month of December to collect donations. Stassen said cash donations or gift certificates are needed. That way, KSM can provide food vouchers and gift certificates to needy families to purchase the fixings for Christmas dinner and gifts for their family. Christmas Wonders provides $25/person for food and $50-$75/person for gifts. According to Stassen, in years past, the program has delivered a family sponsorship Christmas program whereby one family had sponsored another and delivered an actual package of food and toys. However, with some benefactors being more generous than others and space being a problem for turnaround of the packages at the busy KSM, Stassen has changed the program this year into a gift certificate program. That change also means parents don't watch their kids open unknown gifts on Christmas morning that the parents haven't chosen. Some families, particularly fathers and husbands were also embarrassed at having the Christmas packages delivered, said Stassen. "By providing families with food vouchers and gift certifi- cates, parents are able to keep their dignity as they are afforded a rare opportunity to handpick presents for their children," said Stassen. "People can keep their dignity," said Jodi Yeilding, marketing manager at KSM. And they get to plan their own family's Christmas rather than someone else deciding what their Christmas consists of. "Kerr Street Ministries gave me oxygen when I couldn't breathe. I know what it's like to rub two dimes together and hope that it will make a dollar, but it really won't," said Drexler. At KSM, Christmas isn't just for kids either. Seniors and those with mental challenges are not forgotten in the season that can be depressing for many. Topping that list are struggling parents who cannot give their children a Christmas. "Adults seem to understand, but kids don't," said Stassen. "You feel inadequate," said Drexler simply. While Stassen said some are poor through circumstances difficult to change, many, such as new immigrants -- 29 ethnic groups are represented at KSM -- simply need help to get on their feet. While KSM is a faith-based organization, it assists people of all faiths. "We've committed to bringing Christmas to 1,000 families, now we need to raise the money to do it," said Yeilding. For information or to make a donation, contact Stassen at 905-845-7485, ext. 208, agnes@kerrstreet.com or www.kerrstreet.com. IT'S A SPECIAL DAY FOR US TOO!