% J r m y S p r in g D resses Whether you're looking for day or evening, casual or elegant, we have the dress you're looking tor Our entire Spring collection h fresh, bright and fun! Lawn and Garden Equipment Lage selection of Springitem s NOW 25% o ff By I pscaJc K»>alt I jd ir. Hear 115 1rufal^ur Rd. ,u..\ HU uuu 338-3474 Consignment » Opmn 7 Oay% A W ock F n m s ip ^ Repairs and Parts for Most IVIakes ( c p r r b $ 7 0 g from fj W+parts CURRENT POWER MACHINERY INC 1661 Lakeshore Rd. W. Mississauga (2 b lo c k e a st o f S o u th d o w n ^ . Q O O Road lad in C la larkson) rks o n ) S O A * -4 * * ! ! Official Media Sponsor Editor: Wilma Blokhuis Phone: 9 05 -845-3824 (ext. 2 5 0 ) Fax: 905-337-5567 e-mail: blokhuis@haltonsearch.com \V I-:i >N i :.S I) A Y . M A Y 7 . 2 0 0 . } · 1 ' a ^ ` C I Volunteering led to cherished friendship By Melanie Cummings SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER Isabel Naia and Walter Swiekatun are unlikely friends with a lot in common. Their paths likely never would have crossed if not for the Befriending Program through the Ontario March of Dimes. Swiekatun is 76 years old. He also has Multiple Sclerosis, which confines him to a wheelchair and the space inside his Pinegrove Avenue apartment where he lives with his wife Veronica. It's difficult for him to get out and \hotit. So Naia, a youthful grandmother, comes to him. Arid once a week, for about two hours they talk, and talk and talk. "This is what we have in common," said Naia, "we both love to talk." At the urging of her daughter Ana. who is a nurse and occasionally pro vides healthcare services for the March of Dimes. Naia signed up for the volun teer program. That was two years ago. Swiekatun was her first 'friend' and he continues to hold that status. "I look forward to meeting with him." said Naia. They have discovered much in com mon in the span of these two years. Canada is both Naia and Swiekatun's adopted country. She hails from Portugal and immigrated to Canada 14 years ago. Swiekatun is originally a Russian citizen, but has lived in this country almost 50 years. Both like to talk about their children and grandchildren. Naia has two grown children and a newborn grandson, and Peter C. McCusker · Oakville Beaver Betty C ulver gets a hand from volunteer Isabel Naia d u rin g the M arch o f Dimes' A rt in the P ark program . Swiekatun has three children and three grandchildren all who live out west. For Naia, spending time with Swiekatun. is part o f her philosophy of life. "If I can make someone happy. I'm happy." Naia also likes to keep busy. After visiting with Swiekatun. she heads home to Mississauga (she's moving to Oakville in July) and then to work as a school caretaker at 3 p.m. According to Andrea Varl, the Independent Living Resource Worker for the March of Dimes, more volun teers like Naia are needed for the Befriending Program. Currently there are only about 10 vis iting friends. "There just aren't enough, we're always looking for more" said Varl. The time commitment is minimal and flexi ble. she added. Varl is also looking for financial sup port for the Art in the Park program where every Tuesday afternoon disabled residents of the Jean & Howard Cane apartments meet for crafts and cama raderie. It is currently not funded and partici pants donate $2 each time they partake. Like the Befriending Program, Art in the Park is an avenue to socialize. Anne McDachnie, Pat O'Sullivan, Diane King and Betty Culver often sit around the craft table creating and jok ing with each other. At the end of the session they've made something worthwhile -- friend ships. For more information about volun teering or supporting the Ontario March of Dimes program call Varl at 905-8457412. MADD volunteer vows to stop impaired driving By Howard Mozel OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Marlene Purdy is only one voice against drinking and driving but, as a volunteer with Mothers Against Drunk Driving (M ADD) Halton-Peel, that voice can be a powerful instrument for change. Purdy - who became involved with MADD following the death of a co worker at the hands of a drunk driver said she receives a tremendous amount o f fulfillment when someone's percep tions or attitudes toward the issue are changed by the work she does. A case in point involved a young man who spoke to Purdy at a MADD information display and began to under stand all the ramifications of drunk driving - death, injury, shame, job loss, financial difficulties and more - to the point where he was on the verge of tears. `T hat's what gives you the satisfac tion," she said. "It's the satisfaction of maybe keeping a drunk driver off the road.' During Volunteer Week (April 27May 3) MADD honoured the many individuals like Purdy who do their part to help keep our streets safe: according to MADD Canada, every day in this country an average of four people die and more than 200 people are injured in alcohol-related crashes. "If you feel you can help even one person ... you will be doing a real serv ice to the world." said Purdy, who works in a variety of capacities from treasurer to Red Ribbon Campaign vol unteer. Purdy's involvement began when she worked at Beam Canada alongside Janet Dooley - daughter of long-time MADD Halton-Peel president Stephanie Dooley - who was killed by a drunk driver one Sunday morning in November 1991. "She was such a lovely, bouncy. optimistic person." she said. "To me it was so senseless." Vowing in her own way not to let Janet's death be in vain. Purdy decided to prevent those like the habitual drunk driver who killed her friend from strik ing again. "We have to get that kind of idiot off the road. Get them all off the road." she said. Within months of Janet's death, Purdy began checking into MADD. met her mother Stephanie and. in 1992, joined the organization. First she helped with fundraising activities then became treasurer. As such, she sat on the Board and became involved with the chapter's decision making. "The more I learned, the more active I became," said Purdy, who has staffed information kiosks, passed out red rib bons at GO stations and more. While attending a MADD confer ence. Purdy met a mother who lost two daughters in separate drunk driving tragedies - an experience which only Photo courtesy o f Marlene Purdy M arlene Purdy began volunteering with M others Against Drunk Driving Halton-Peel following the death of a co-worker at the hands of a drunk driver. served to reinforce her commitment. "I'm not a victim but that doesn't stop me from helping." she said. M ADD Canada is a non-profit organization with approximately 5,000 volunteers across the country which could still use more helping hands, said Purdy. "We desperately need volunteers,' she said. "I know people are busy but you don't have to give a lot of your time." FUR STORAGE · McMaster University COMPETITIVE RATES & EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE · PIANO SALE! The School of the Arts at McMaster University is replacing some of its stock pianos. Through an agreement with Kawai Canada Music Ltd. the School of the Arts is hosting a sale of pianos on campus. More than 50 pianos will be available including grands, uprights and digitals in many sizes and finishes. Brand names include: KAWAI, YAMAHA and W E B E R as well as many others. Some are new, some less than one year old and others have been professionally refurbished. 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