COMMUNITY CALENDAR

NEW YEARS PARTY The Sanderson Centre is proud to be a part of Brantford’s New Year’s Eve Celebration on December 31st, 2023 from 9:00 pm to midnight. Join in on the fun for FREE with live music from Wicked Truth and Summer of 69’, photo booth and party favours at the Sanderson Centre for the Performing Arts. The celebration continues in Harmony Square with the ball drop at midnight followed by a spectacular firework display to ring in the new year until 1am You can find all the details at www.Brantford.ca/NewYearsEve

NEW YEARS PARTY Sunday, December 31, 2023

10:00 am – 12:00 pm & 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm: Syl

Apps Community Centre, Paris $11.00/ per family

All ages welcome! Must Register www.brant.ca/COBConnect

Nearly 200 volunteers help sort and pack over 170 Christmas Hampers this year

By Casandra Turnbull

The magic of Christmas was in the air this week as a community united to prove that to give is far better than to receive.

The generosity in this town is immeasurable and the proof of that statement was within the walls of the ag hall at the Paris Fairgrounds this past week as volunteers from all walks of life sorted and organized literally tonnes of food and toys donated by caring citizens who all share a common goal – to ensure no one goes without this holiday season.

Between 150-200 volunteers from area schools, businesses, service clubs, recreational clubs, religious organizations, families and individuals had hand in packaging this year’s Paris Community Christmas Hampers. Sure, you’ve seen the firefighters collecting toys at Jingle Bell Night or Canadian Tire, and the OPP with their sirens on

Pictured above are some of the Paris Community Christmas Hamper Committee members – left to right – Tawnia Martel, Shirley Simons, Cherish Gamble, Marg Knill-Wilson and Laura Bowlby. Photo by Casandra Turnbull collecting food at Sobeys and No Frills (as well as out of town stores too), perhaps you’ve dropped some toys off at area businesses or sent a few food items to your child’s school drive, but where do all these donates end up and how do they make their way to someone’s home on Christmas morning?

Let me introduce to you the Paris Community Christmas Hamper committee, the backbone of this community project, one that has only gained momentum year over year for the past 40 years. Eight individuals are at the helm of this well-planned and allencompassing community drive:

Shirley Simons, Marg KnillWilson, Tawnia Martel, Cherish Gamble, Laura Bowlby, Matt Amy, Ken Johnston and Anne Rutt. They plan every last detail and with some individuals such as Shirley and Marg who are founding members, it’s safe to say they have a very established routine to execute every December.

But the strength of this program is only as robust as the volunteers who pitch in to help organize the hampers the week before they are distributed.

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