Friday, December 24, 2010 When getting rid of that Christmas tree, there’s a way to also help the local search and rescue team.
Page A11
ary Annivers 1985-2010
• YOUR SOURCE FOR LOCAL SPORTS, NEWS, WEATHER AND ENTERTAINMENT! • mrtimes.com • 604-463-2281 • 32 PAGES
Charity
Thanks Mr. and Mrs. Claus
More than 600 families are benefiting this holiday season from the generosity of Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows residents, and the tireless efforts of the local Christmas hamper society’s volunteers.
ing short-term need. Coming from a family of five, Bates remembers being the recipient of hampers as a child one Christmas. Her father worked in an aircraft factory in Montreal and he was badly burned in a workplace accident, which put the family in need. Bates recalls her mother opening the door of their home and being greeted with gifts and food from a local service club. “We’re not going to turn away by Troy Landreville people who have a short-term tlandreville@mrtimes.com need, and that’s what is hard to A woman carrying bags of toys explain to people,” Bates said. “We walked into the Maple Ridgerecognize that some families have a Pitt Meadows Christmas Hamper short-term need because they have Society headquarters earlier this recently lost their job, suffered an month. injury, separation or divorce.” After dropping her donation off Bates added, “And there are at the toy depot, she many, many people turned to society cowho have long-term “Last year, we chair Lorraine Bates needs and have needed help and asked if she could needed help for give her a hug. years and years.” and you made Bates replied, “I’ll For society recipiChristmas for take a hug from anyents who haven’t body, any day.” worked for six my family. I just The woman came months or a year, wanted to give around the counter they aren’t going to back and I wanted sell their homes, or and held Bates tight, whispering to her, their cars, because to give you a big “last year we needed those are essential to thank you.” help and you made day-to-day life, Bates – A former recipient turned Christmas for my said. Christmas hamper donor family. I just wanted And Christmas to give back and I puts extra strain on wanted to give you a families teetering big thank you.” on the precipice of poverty, which The woman’s eyes welled with is why the society has a policy of tears. She wasn’t alone. never turning anyone away, if they “I was crying because none of us qualify through the registration do this for that sort of recognition,” criteria. Bates said. When Cameron began volunteerNeither do the countless anonym- ing in 1988, 47 families benefited. ous donors who bring in bags of This year, with 607 families registoys and clothes earmarked for tered with the society – the most needy children and their families ever in its history – help is needed in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows more than ever. every holiday season. Cameron and Bates took the The story sums up what the soci- society reins at a point when many ety is all about, said Bates, who hard-working seniors were trying to has co-chaired the non-profit charkeep the organization going. ity since 1998. Since then, the two co-chairs Bates took on the role after some and the society’s directors have gentle arm-twisting from longtime had plenty of dedicated elves at friend and fellow co-chair Tom their disposal. The same volunteers Cameron, a 26-year resident of continue to come back, which is Maple Ridge who started volunteer- why the society’s office trailer at ing with the society in the late ’80s. the Albion Fairgrounds is known as Bates didn’t need much persuad“Hotel California.” ing, because she can relate to havcontinued on page A8…
Troy Landreville/TIMES
After months of volunteering, to make sure Christmas is possible for hundreds of less fortunate families in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows, Christmas hamper society co-chairs Tom Cameron and Lorraine Bates are finally preparing for their own Christmas.
Don’t miss important information from City of Pitt Meadows on Pages A4, A8, and A11
WE’RE CLOSER THAN
Online, all the time...
Your BEST Mortgage is One Call Away
YOU THINK!
604-466-1976
Donna Telep
Right here at home!
www.mrtimes.com
www.sevillemortgage.ca 22718 Lougheed Hwy. Maple Ridge Fax: 604-466-5348 • Email: donna@sevillemortgage.ca