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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, March 13, 2015 | 6 Some people need a hand in Oakville The clocks have moved forward, the ice is melting and Fare Share food bank is once again gearing up for its annual Easter food drive -- and the need is urgent. We carry many stories within the pages of our newspaper -- those of success, sadness, achievement and challenge -- and, in more recent years, we've carried those that speak to poverty and homelessness in our community. For many, in such an af uent town, eyebrows are raised. "Not here," is too often the response. But Oakville is clearly not immune. If you look at the photo on this page, Oakvillebased Safetynet Children and Youth Charities serves more than 1,400 Oakville children and families annually. Past stories have recorded that Kerr Street Ministries (KSM) serves thousands of people annually. The front page of yesterday's Oakville Beaver carried a story about the death of a homeless man -- one who had been living in Oakville for several years, according to Halton police. Elsewhere in today's newspaper are stories about Halton Women's Shelter, a haven for women facing abuse issues and their children -- a shelter that, sadly, is not brimming with vacancies. Our local charities are outpaced by the need and all of them depend on the generosity of residents. After more than two decades in operation, Fare Share, which receives no government support, is once again looking to restock its shelves. In 1998, the folks who established the food bank were hoping it would serve a purpose and then become extinct. Rather, the demand continues to grow. Fare Share operates on volunteer power, be it donations or day-to-day operations, and delivers food to those in need. It collects donations, food and money, year round, but hosts food drives at Easter and Thanksgiving. This year, Fare Share not only has to replenish dwindling food resources, but it has a particular need for baby food. Babies in need of food doesn't bode well for reduced numbers at the many breakfast programs that have been springing up at schools and community groups over recent years. It doesn't generate positive thoughts on child poverty issues either. While an Easter celebration is a fairly common tradition in many households, it is becoming an increasingly visible issue that a number of Oakville residents are struggling to afford their most basic nutritional requirements each day, never mind at a special occasion. Child hunger should not exist here. Look around for the signs and take action. The Easter food drive runs Saturday, March 21 to Saturday, April 4. Food can be dropped off at Fare Share collection bins located in all Oakville grocery stores, at all Oakville Fire Stations and at the 1240 Speers Rd., Unit No. 6, food bank. Monetary donations are also accepted. For more information, contact www.oakvillefoodbank.com or call 905-847-3988. Editorial N I G H T O U T F O R "Connected to your Community" K I D S 447 Speers Road, Oakville ON, L6K 3S4 General Inquiries: (905) 845-3824 Editorial Department: (905) 632-0588 Classi ed Advertising: (905) 632-4440 Circulation: 5300 Harvester Rd., Burlington (905) 631-6095 Volume 53 | Number 21 The Oakville Beaver is a division of Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. Vice ­President and Group Publisher of Metroland West Regional General Manager Halton Region Editor in Chief NEIL OLIVER DAVID HARVEY JILL DAVIS Four Oakville women and ve local businesses hosted the second annual A Night Out For The Kids Feb. 25. It raised $7,000 for Safetynet Children and Youth Charities, which serves more than 1,400 Oakville children and families annually providing free music lessons and after-school tutoring to help break the cycle of generational poverty. It also offers a clothing bank, emergency food bank and counselling services. Pictured, at piano, from left, are: Molly Clarke, Ellie Mehltretter and Catherine Salter, tutors from Oakville Trafalgar High School (OTHS). In back, from left, are: OTHS tutor Susanna Coss; Cynthia Haxell, Night Out; Sue Heddle, Safetynet chair; Trudy Hart, Night Out; and Bill Shields, Safetynet; and kneeling in front is Alix Scott, Night Out. | photo by Riziero Vertolli ­ Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_photog or facebook.com/HaltonPhotog) Advertising Director DANIEL BAIRD Managing Editor ANGELA BLACKBURN RIZIERO VERTOLLI Photography Director Business Manager Director of Production SANDY PARE MARK DILLS Halton Region proud of AAA credit rating Gary Carr Halton Region Chair My View MANUEL GARCIA Production Manager Director of Distribution CHARLENE HALL KIM MOSSMAN Circulation Manager H alton Region's strong nancial position is an important part of our ability to invest in Halton's future. Our strong nancial position and prudent budgetary practices in our annual review once again earned the Region an AAA credit rating from Moody's Investors Service. The rating agency also attached a "stable outlook" for the Region's nancial future, indicating its con dence in Halton's ability to maintain this standing. Achieving the highest credit rating possible from Moody's Investors Service, while keeping taxes low, demonstrates Halton Region's growth is both scally responsible and sustainable. Regional Council is committed to governing for the future as part of our Strategic Action Plan, and this achievement con rms we continue to move in the right direction with one of the best records in Canada. Achieving this rating ensures Halton Region and the four local municipalities that borrow under this rating (Oakville, Burlington, Milton and Halton Hills) continue to obtain the best possible capital market nancing rates, minimizing the longer term costs of infrastructure capital. In announcing the rating, Moody's highlighted a number of Halton's scally responsible actions including: · Effective multi-year planning and prudent fiscal policy; · Management's conservative debt and investment management policies, which limit exposure to market-related risks and help ensure smooth debt servicing costs; · The Region's forward-looking operating and capital plans to address pressures and spending requirements; and · The Region's comprehensive, transparent and timely nancial reporting. On Jan. 28, Regional Council approved a 1.5 per cent increase in property taxes to fund Regional tax supported programs and services while strengthening the Region's investment in the planning and delivery of infrastructure. This change is consistent with Halton's eight-year track record of keeping tax increases at, or below , the rate of in ation. To learn more about Halton's budget, including an overview of the Halton Region Budget and Business Plan 2015, visit www.halton.ca/budget. Proud Official Media Sponsor For: Canadian Circulations Audit Board Member Recognized for Excellence by Ontario Community Newspapers Association Canadian Community Newspapers Association Proud Official Media Sponsor For: The Oakville Beaver welcomes letters from its readers. Letters will be edited for clarity, length, legal considerations and grammar. In order to be published all letters must contain the name, address and phone number of the author. Letters should be addressed to: The Editor, Oakville Beaver, 5040 Mainway, Burlington, ON, L7L 7G5 or via email to; ablackburn@oakvillebeaver.com. The Beaver reserves the right to refuse to publish a letter. The Oakville Beaver is a member of the Ontario Press Council. The council is located at 80 Gould St., Suite 206, Toronto, Ont., M5B 2M7. Phone 416-340-1981. 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