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14 ReSidentS. E play Santa a ma chantzes There is also your ()flice's Secmt Santa. where for around $20 you an: more than likely to get a silly gadget that in reality neither you nor your Secret Santa knows what it does. Eight years ago. staff at the Whitchurch-Stouffville Public Library decided to end their Secret Santa gift exchange and instead donate that money to a local ele- mentary school’s library. Schdols are chosen. by drawing a name out of a hat. according to Carolyn Nordheimer lames. the library's QED. _ A "lf’s like kindred spirits. one library to anoth_er." she said. _ 1- D6nations have ranged from $250 to$500emnuallyu Like the library staff. Stouffville’s Moller Insurance has opted to forgo the staff gift exchange and donate to The Sun-Tribune/York Region Media Group's Santa Fund. The 11-pelson office provided Christmas gifts for two families this year. Because there is a need, it's not uncommon for staff to donate $50 or more. instead of the traditional $20. said Jeannie Dinatale, an insur- ance broker at the company. “For the small business. they support your business, the least you can do is give back." she said. “There is a need out there and we can fulfill it." A York Region dental office has opted to donate what they would have spent on sending Christmas cards to their clients, to the United Way this year. according to Carmen Clayton. associate director of cor- porate partnerships for United Way York Region. Many ways to help locally The ()SPCA has been running Paws to Give for about 10 years. From page 1. Gift-givers select from a variety of items such as care for a cat/kit- ten ($30). dog ($50) or horse ($100). each of which consists of loving came. nutritious food. bedding. toys and required vet_erinz_u'y care. .A .- Peofile can also chbose a gift of greatest need, which helps shelter animals in desperate need of People have been responding well to the program because donors know exactly where their money is going. according to Kallie Milleman. community development 39istant with the 'Whitcht'xrch-Sloufiville- based animal shelter. 1hree years ago. they added lim- ited edition plush toys to their offer- ings. 'lhis year there is Madison the yellow lab. Rocky the lab/ great dane and 131501}. a hound. 'lh'ey are all based on dogs that have come through the shelter. A Each toy is Mdland comes with a personde a_d0ption certificate. The plush doghan be sent direct- ly to therdonor or §om_eone else. J People not only donate out of the kindneas of their hearts. but also in memory of a lost pel. During the holidays. the ()SPCA sees an increase in donations by about 20 to 30 per cent. according to Milleman. CBM Canada. which is a Stouffvillebased Christian devel: opment organization committed to improving quality of life for persons with disabilities in the poorest coun- tries of the world. also has an online Hope and Healing catalogue. For a $100 donation. a family receives training. tools and start up capital for their own vegetable farm. while $140 provides a family with two goals. ' Llons, food bank deliver Not everyone has a lot of money to spare for Christmas gifts. let alone donations to organizations. In fact. 12.? per cent of York Region's 1.1 million residents live in poverty. including 14.8 per cent of its youth. 'l‘he Stuuffville Linus put together about 60 baskets with toys. clothes and food vouchers for families. while the Whitchurch- Stout‘fville Food Bank is expected to hand out about 100 baskets to its clients this year. For about four years. the Stouffville Kinsmen Club has been donating to the Santa Fund and before that. they donated to the Children's Aid Smfiety at Christmas. l‘he donations bégan more than 10 years ago with its Kinettes. the female arm of the Kinsmen. The women decided it was just some- thing they wanted to do. according to Bruce Gribbon. past-president of the Stouffville Kinsman Club. The women would get together on a Friday night and shop. They would then re-group another night and wrap everything. he said. Although the Stouffville Kinettes no longer exist. there are four women who keep the tradition alive. he said. noting they keep the shopping local â€"â€" they go to Giant 'l‘iger. For the second year in a row. players with the Stoufl‘ville Minor Hockey Association have brought new toys to the arena and given them directly to Santa. who in turn distributes them through his elves with the Santa Fund. lea gift of time 'lhere is one thing people can give that does not cost a dime â€"- time. 'l‘he gift of time can be as sim- ple as providing a free night of babysitting for a friend. helping an elderly neighbour with chores. assisting someone with a house- STAFF PHOTO/MIKE BARRETT hold project/renovation or fixing their car. When it comes to people you know. you can offer up your assis- tance with a gift certificate made on your computer or just show up and lend a hand. You can also give the gift of time more formally by volunteering. There are about 250 organi- zations looking for volunteers in York Region. according to Rose- mary Park. chairperson of the York Region Community Information and Volunteer (Ientre. which is a website that connects organiza- tions with volunteers: http://york. ciocra "When they freer give of their time. it's priceless." ’ark said. The site has opportunities for administrative help. ltundymen. healthcure and legal services. to name u few. The reasons for volunteering are as unique as the person. but among the more common reasons klrt‘ job experience and socialization. “'l‘here's more to this mmmu~ nity and more to life than keep- ing your head down and doing the minimum." according to Park. With files fmm 'Ibrstur News Media and .mrkn’gion. mm Pat Houston (right) was one of the many volunteers, town staff and members of the Stouffville Lions Club assem- bling 60 holiday hampers at the Whitchurchâ€" Stouffville Municipal Offic- es Tuesday.