The Paris Independent
10
November 25, 2023
COMMUNITY NEWS The Hamper program also gives you have an opportunity to volunteer members to organize the week of individuals, businesses, and this holiday season, look no further December 17 – 22. Volunteers will organizations the opportunity to than the Christmas Hamper spend days organizing the donations sponsor a family. Last year there program. The sight of volunteers ahead of the December 22nd pick up were 18 sponsors who saw the sorting donations, stocking food and date. Hamper applications are still importance of sponsoring a family to organizing toys, while working in available at the County of Brant ensure everyone has a good holiday, sync, donned with Christmas hats office in Paris, 66 Grand River St N said Simons. Sponsors reach out to while enjoying holiday tunes– is a until mid December. Anyone Simons, who then pairs the sponsor heart-warming experience that interested in sponsoring a family or with a family. The sponsor gets a everyone should be a part of, if not coming on board as a volunteer is copy of the family’s initial Hamper once, but every year. urged to call Shirley Simons at 519application, which outlines their If you cannot donate time, consider 442-3550. needs and wants, as well as basic donating to the cause. The County of This community is beyond blessed information about everyone in the Brant OPP and EMS will host their to have so many kind-hearted family. The sponsors shop to collect Fill a Vehicle food drive the individuals who call Paris home. the family’s needs, some wish list weekends of December 9/10 and From donating to volunteering, this items and enough food to fill the December 16/17 at area grocery program wouldn’t be the success it food box. It’s a generous stores – Sobeys, No Frills, and is today without the dedicated undertaking, which Simons is Foodland in St. George and Burford. committee members, like Simons, grateful for every year. The Paris Fire Fighters Club will be who simply have the desire to make The concept is simple on paper, but outside of Canadian Tire Paris this sure everyone can enjoy the spirit of behind the scenes there’s a weekend collecting new toy the holidays without stress and tremendous amount of work donations. Non-perishable food anxiety. involved from collecting donations items and new toys can be dropped “I stay involved because I want to to sorting them and distributing off at the County of Brant Service make sure all our residents are well them. Simon’s committee work as a Office (Paris), LCBO, CIBC, TD, blessed with enough food and gifts well-oiled machine with many years YNCU Credit Union and The Full for their children and to know there of experience, backed by close to Plate. The committee also accepts will be many happy little faces 100 volunteers from all walks of life hats and mittens to keep children Christmas morning. It is a very – the caring neighbour, local sports warm throughout the winter. special time of year for me,” said teams/clubs, girl guides, students The Paris Fairgrounds donates part Simons, who wouldn’t have it any from area schools, the list is long. If of the facility for committee other way.
Pictured above (from left to right) Trisha Holyome, Emily Hunter, Lisa Lewis, Lindsay Percival and Emily Percival, volunteers in charge of organizing the massive amount of toy donations from the 2021 Hamper Collection – not even a pandemic could stop the generosity in this community. Photos by Casandra Turnbull
