THANK YOU OTTAWA
Thank
you for hearing the need of those less
fortunate in your community and coming
forward with your financial support.
Your generosity made a real difference in the lives of struggling
families and individuals.
Without the tremendous support of thousands
of individual and corporate donors, and the hundreds of volunteers
Christmas may not have happened for 25,000 people, including 10,500
children and 2,350 seniors. Ottawa truly is a caring community.
Adrian
Harewood,
CBC TV News, and 2009 Christmas
Exchange Campaign Chair
Even as a single mom of three, Lorna was always a go-getter. In the early 1970s,
she graduated from university in order to be able to give her three young children
a better life. When her children were old enough to move out on their own, Lorna
met someone she thought was a wonderful man. Together she and her new love moved
to a small town in southwestern Ontario and started a business. In addition to
running the business, Lorna became very active in her community with the local
BIA (Business Improvement Association) and the annual Winter Festival. Everything
was going well and Lorna had every reason to believe that when the time came
she and her partner would have a good retirement.
Sadly and without Lorna’s
knowledge, her partner became involved in some unsavory activities. When she
was out of town visiting her daughter to celebrate birthdays for two of her grandchildren
Lorna contacted the police to say that she feared for her safety if she was to
return to her partner. Knowing that her partner owned a hand-gun, the police
advised Lorna not return home. So at the age of 64, after a 25 year relationship,
Lorna found herself fleeing her home and everything she had worked so hard to
build. Although she had no family and no job in Ottawa, she knew that her partner
would not look for her here.
Lorna arrived in Ottawa mid-December with limited
possessions and had a difficult time making ends meet. That first year Lorna
received help from Christmas Exchange in the form of a grocery voucher. “The
assistance I received helped to restore my faith in people”, Lorna said. “To
know that there are people out there that care is beyond words”. Since
Lorna is diabetic the grocery voucher allowed her to buy the fresh fruits and
vegetables so important in a diabetic diet.
After everything she has been through
Lorna sees herself as a survivor not a victim, and is grateful and happy for
everything she has. Now officially a senior over 65 years of age, Lorna is active
in her Ottawa community, and volunteers at her local food cupboard. She has found
a safe home.
For more stories on how Christmas Exchange has helped those in need, click
here.
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Click on the image below to view a video message from
the Christmas Exchange
30-second Flash video
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The Christmas Exchange of Ottawa is a volunteer-driven organization headed
by a volunteer Board of Directors. Since 1915, Christmas
Exchange has been delivering food and hope to eligible families referred
each year by churches, schools and social agencies — those who know
the need first hand. |
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