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Stouffville Sun-Tribune | Thursday, December 22, 2016 | 10 EDITORIAL | OPINION · OUR VIEW · ABOUT US Don't forget less fortunate this holiday season Well, the holidays are here again and that means it's time to indulge in a little festive food, partake in some eggnog, perhaps, and maybe even keep a keen eye out for the arrival of Santa Claus and the array of presents many children, young and old, hope that he has with their names on them. And while many of us count the days until this time of year rolls around again, for others in the community , the season is anything but holly jolly . Each and every year we hear the pleas from charities and other local nonprofit agencies about the need for both donations and volunteers to help make the season bright for the less fortunate among us. It's all too easy to get swept up in the Each and every year annual excess and the we hear the pleas seemingly never-ending to-do list each of us from charities and has, but, if we're able, other local nonprofit we should try and take even a moment out of agencies about the our hectic schedules to do our part to help need for both ensure that others can also have a reason to donations and celebrate the holidays. volunteers to help York Region is home to many charitamake the season ble agencies from those that operate bright for the less at the local fortunate among us. strictly level to others whose scope spans all nine municipalities and beyond. The fact of the matter is, poverty remains a massive issue in our society . Although a small gesture, donating a few non-perishable goods to the local food bank or making a small donation to a nonprofit organization may not seem to have that much of an impact, but if enough of us do it, it can make a big difference to others in our communities. By all means, enjoy spending time with your friends and family over the course of this festive season; just don't forget that not everyone has reason to feel joyful without some assistance. If we can all pitch in, even a little bit, maybe we can make sure another family has a merrier Christmas or a happier holiday and, with any luck, a more prosperous new year. The countdown is on, but there's still time to be generous to others. You'll be glad you did. The Stouffville Sun-Tribune, published every Thursday, is a division of the Metroland Media Group Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Torstar Corporation. The Metroland family of newspapers is comprised of more than 100 community publications across Ontario. The Stouffville Sun-Tribune is a member of the National NewsMedia Council. Complainants are urged to bring their concerns to the attention of the newspaper and, if not satisfied, write The National NewsMedia Council, Suite 200, 890 Yonge St., Toronto, ON M4W 2H2. Phone: 416-340-1981 Web: www.mediacouncil.ca newsroom@yrmg.com facebook.com/yrmgnews @yorkregion Shame on York for not funding Housing Help Centre Re: York Region ends funding for Housing Help Centre for low-income residents, Nov. 29. Shame on York Region for ending its funding to the Housing Help Centre and its Identification Clinic, the only agency in the Region providing this type of service to a vulnerable sector of our community at a pittance in cost. How can the Region possibly justify ending the funding after 23 years? It is not like the need for this service is diminishing. On the contrary, with the growing crisis in the availability of affordable housing and the rise in the number of low and moderate income residents in York Region, the need for a · LETTERS TO THE EDITOR · service like this is even with no respect for greater. Who will pick up Canada? the slack once this agency is gone? Ms. Urbanski, Commissioner of Community and Health Services, says that the Region funds programs for low and moderate income residents that address service gaps in the community. Well, is this not a program that addresses a service gap? The impact of the loss of these services on the vulnerable members of our community who most need them will be immense, but who cares? These are the invisible who will just have to get by with one less helping hand. York Region, creating strong, caring, safe communities! Kathleen D'Souza Whitchurch-Stouffville Re: Editorial: Divisive politics unCanadian, Nov. 24. In addition to the Canadian values in your editorial, are the respect for the rule of law, the democratic process and charity. It's fine if my neighbour doesn't value charity, but it's not fine if he has no respect for the rule of law. Contrary to your editorial, we can sort out a hierarchy of values and a Canadian consensus. Likewise, still other values are likely antithetical to the vast majority of Canadians. If it were determined that someone wishing to emigrate had no respect for Canada, the democratic process, or the rule of law, why would you admit such a person? And even as you accuse (Kellie) Leitch of demonizing them and yourselves ("Cana- Why admit those Publisher Dana Robbins General Manager Shaun Sauve Director of Advertising Maureen Christie da's political and media elites"), you do a fine job of demonizing her, resorting to ad-hominid arguments, name calling and scapegoating. Finally, you contradict yourself when you write that a Harper values test would have screened for conservative rather Canadian values. Contrary to your statement that our values are too diverse to define, here you conclude that there are indeed Canadian values. If so, then it is possible to screen for them. The question remains why - when you offer Canadian citizenship and its benefits to newcomers - are you opposed to determining who wants to live within the broad context of Canadian society in contrast to those who do not. Anthony Dayton Thornhill CONTACT US yorkregion.com WHO WE ARE Delivery For all delivery inquiries, please e-mail customersupport@metroland. com or call 1-855-853-5613. Editor-in-Chief Metroland Central Joanne Burghardt Editor-in-Chief York Region Lee Ann Waterman Managing Editor Ted McFadden Director Distribution Mike Banville Director Creative Services Katherine Porcheron Advertising Manager Mara Sepe Stouffville Sun-Tribune 580 Steven Court Newmarket, ON L3Y 4X1 Phone: 905-853-8888 Fax: 905-853-4626 Web: www.yorkregion.com Letters to the editor All letters must be fewer than 200 words and include your name and telephone number for verification purposes. We reserve the right to edit, condense or reject letters.