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The United Way of York Region, for example, is tantaliz- ing close to its record $7.65 mil- lion goal with a week to go. An informal survey of the region’s charities suggests when times get tough, public spirit and benevolence keep pace. The Whitchurch-Stouffi/ille Food Bank, one of nine in York. collected and prepared Christ- mas hampers for more than 80 families, Ms Wells said. With more than four new clients week- ly, need has been growing. “It's '. ,tely phenomenal,” Whitch‘ 1' y a ' Stouffville Food Bank co-ordinator Marion Wells said of the response to the agen- cy's local. Christmas food drive. “It's far beyond what we could have imagined. The generosity of the community is awesome. “We're stocked and ready to meet the need and whatever is ahead of us." BY CHRIS TRADER ctraber@yrmg. com The spirit of the season and York Region residents is alive, well and evident in the middle of the holidays. Residents fill food bank, Lions club hampers The agency suppovrts 100 PARTY ON, STOUFFVILLE! MAYOR’S NEW YEAR’S EVE CELEBRATIONS, MEMORIAL PARK, 6 TO 9 RM See COMMUNITY, page 9. HOUMY CHARITY WY, DEC.29.2009 I WWWOFWWSTOUW I 12 PAGESISIINCLUDINGGST Artist Caroline Holroyd draws a caricature of Corry Mortalla, 2, of Stoufiville as his mother, Cristina, looks on at the Stouflville Community Christmas Dinner at EastRidge Evangelical Missionary Church on Friday. For additional photographs and information, see page 3. CABIDATIIBES, CARING 0N CHRISTMAS STAFF PHOTO/JIM MASON The policy will Vtake effect once the signs are put up, which will be occur any day now. “I'm quite confident we’ll have great suc- cess in enforcing this," said Rob Raycroft, director of leisure and community services for the Town of Miitchurch-Stouffville. “Staff working at the various facilities (will) uphold the required smoking radius with the same approach as upholding the ‘no alcohol withâ€" out a permit’ policy." “We’re going to fly and convince them to move away from the door," said Mayor Wayne Emmerson, noting all benches and ash trays will be relocated beyond the fiveâ€"metre radius. The move to create the municipal pol- icy came after numerous complaints were received by Councillor Richard Bartley regard- ing children being forced to walk through plumes of smoke in order to get into and out of local facilities, such as the Stouflville Arena. Smokers will now have to light up five metres awa§l from any entrance or exit of town-owned buildings. Smoking radius established outside arena, other buildings children being forced to walk through plumes of smoke in order to get into and out of local facilities, such as the Stoujfville Arena. Back off, smokers: town FAR-FLUNG p SEE PAGEZ BY SANDRA BOLAN sbolan@yrmg.com