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“I don‘t deserve a lot of cred- it.” Mr. Clements said. “I get my payback from all the people I see who’ve been touched.” The Uxbridge resident has spent many years giving back to others in the community, and nationwide. Get his voice mail and it asks you to do a good deed for someone else that day. BY ALYSHIA HIGGINS Helping others may be diflicult for some, but for Norm Clements, it's all in a days work. 138WDL,W5 Si‘fi'ib ~ ne THURSDAYJANJQ2008 I SERVINGTHE COMMUNfTY 0F WHITCHURCHâ€"STOUFFVILLE I 24 PAGES/S1 mcumm . .qT MGM 1-877-410-AUTO WNW SPECIALIZING IN Dinner for 700 is the 1 THURSDAYJANJOJOOB I SERVING THE COMMUNITY OFWHITCHURCH-STOUFFVILLE I 24 PAGES/$1 INCLUDINGGST Attendance down at Stoufi‘ville event, but show must go on for philanthropist Since its inception about 13 years ago, the dinner has been serv- ing members of the community who are not necessarily poor, but who have no one to spend Christ- mas with. “It really bothered me that Christmas was becoming about how many presents were under the _ Mr. Clements is the founder of the National Sports chain, the Jenni- fer Ashleigh Children’s Charity and the annual Stouffville Christmas Day Dinner at EastRidge Church. He decided to take action and set up a community dinner, including a traditional turkey meal and enter- tainment, for anyone who would be spending Christmas alone or did not have access to such a meal. ‘ "The first year was overwhelmâ€" ing with volunteers. We probably had over 200," he said. “Every year tree and how many gifts people got,” he said. “Stouffville is a fairly prosperous community, but a lot of people still have no where to go on Christmas day." More than 700 meals were served at the 2006 event. “We have half a dozen people who have been with us since it started. We have great volunteers who come to help,” he said. “We The dinner was held at the Stouffville Country Market, which he owns, but has now been moved to East Ridge Church, next doon its W in the success of it in that people really enjoy coming and vol- unteering.” STAFF PHOTO/SJOERD WITTEVEEN Mr Clements says the best part of helping out with the dinner is the volunteers. cook about 50 turkeys, 15 400 pounds of potatoes." For dessert this year, Mr (Ileâ€" ments has asked members of the new Northern Gate community to bake pies. “I get to see people who don't get to give back like this during the Opinion . . . Coming Up Sports . . . . . Classified .. Srr CHRISTMAS, Trees stand in of water at Bush- wood Golf Club on Reesor Road just south .of Stouffville on Tuesday. All that snow that fell in December turned to water early this week, thanks to record-break- ing temperatures across the GTA. Temperatures are to remain above zero through the weekend. 6312 Main St StouMIe 905-640-4646 "Juan-y WINTER THAW arthau :I'ewellers pagt 5 hams and