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2-The Canadian Champion, Tuesday, January il, 2005 OU 21ST S NAL SAL £ PLE S E EELTNODED! ASIN are now Up to $90OOO By MELANIE HENNESSEY The Champion In the days and weeks afier tue tsunami in southein Asia, heartwarming stories of Miltonians' fundraising efforts -partîcu- larly lrom childrcn -continue to he heard. Wbetber tl le youngsters donaiing their Christmas money or hard-earned dollars from shovelling snow, local Red Croîss staff and volLtneers have been close to tears on many occasions silice the flindrais- ing started. North Halton Red Cross Transportation Co-ordinaiiîr Judith Dobbs reporied $90,() in donations bas been made t__ --he Milton office so far, a portion otf whicb came f rcm local residents as young as six or seven years old. She saîd one particularly touchîng story came from îwo hlîtle boys wbo brought money in Friday thcy raised shovclltng snow. 'They wxent oui and they shoselled until tbey reached $70." Ms Dobbs said. adding ihey chose thai amount affer learning that's what tl would take to belp a famîly about tbe saine size as their own. Affer tbey dropped the money off at the Red Cross office, she said îhey turned to, their mother and asked, "Does that mean tbey're going to be okay now?" "Tbat was really sweet,"* Ms Dobbs said. At Chris Hadffeld Sehool. Principal Rick Nodwell bad similar stories of childeents generosiîy. He said be's seen a litîle girl bring in $ 10Of she received for ber birtbday a boy dîg througb bis couch t0 gatber change and another student raîse money shovelling driveways. -Kids are jusi comîng to me witb change. li's heartwarming." be said. "In this world, we tbink kids don't care. but that's jusî not true.' He said the sehool set a goal to raîse $1 for each of ils 1, 171 students. Now, ihey 've raised about $3.500. Around town, new f undraîsîng initiatives are also geiiing underway every day. At Infusion Catering and Event Design, ce- owner Kelly Sinyî-Miller saîd they'll be donatîng $1 from eacb regular-priced sand- wich order delivered thi3 montb to the relief effort. "We're a small company, 50 we can't wsnte out a buge cheque, but we wanîed to do someîbing." She added their fundraising goal is $1.000. and if îhey baven't reacbed that by tbe end of the month. itîIl be carried over mbt February. Over the weekend, the Red Cross receîved about $30,000 in donations about $19.000 of whicb came from Glen Eden Ski and Snowboard Centre's fundraiser Sunday uigbî. "lits jusi been absolute bedlam," said Ms Dobbs. "We've been working overtîme and not takîing lunch breaks. We're exhausied. but ise're very grateful, She added thai thev're hoping iii reach the $ll1f0,000 mark soon. Gîven the overwhelming response. more volunteers are needed ai the Milton office to help wîîh processîî'g donations and answening the phones. Donations can be made in person ai the local Red Cross office or mailed to 100 Nîpissing Rd., Unit 5, L9T 5B2. Office bours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday. For more information cail (905) 875-1459. Melanie Henneaaev can be reached or mhennessey@o.miltoncanadianchampion.co M.