As posted on the Orillia Calendar, May 30, 2013.

Orillia Today

Friday, May 31

• The Sleeping Children Around The World Annual garage sale, with bake table is on May 31, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. and on June 1, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sale is at 1917 Ridley Blvd., Bass Lake Woodlands. Rain date is June 8.

• St. Mark’s Presbyterian Church presents a roast beef dinner on May 31, at 6 p.m. Tickets are $14. Call Alma at 705-327-2725 to reserve tickets. St. Mark’s is located at 429 Jamieson Dr.

• The Orillia ANAF presents the Fig Leaf Quartet on May 31, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. All welcome. Admission for non-members and guests is $2.

• A Spring Rummage Sale will be held in the Guardian Angel’s church hall on Friday May 31, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

• The Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Nurse Alumni reunion dinner is on May 31 at the Mariposa Inn. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and tickets are $35 (they must be ordered in advance). Call Pat at 326-3916.

• The Guardian Angels Spring Rummage Sale is on May 31, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• The Moose Lodge hosts a fish and chips dinner on May 31 at 6 p.m. There are also meat draws. The lodge is at 6 Kitchener St.

Saturday, June 1

• Anyone interested in trying lawn bowling is invited to attend a Lawnbowls open house on June 1, at 2 p.m., at 5 Commerce Rd. Instructors will be on hand.

• The Mariposa Grandmothers host a plant and garage sale on June 1, at 432 Mooney Cres. The event runs 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and proceeds help women in Africa who have lost their children to AIDS and are raising their grandchildren.

• A free lunch is offered June 1 at Free Methodist Church on the Hill. The event runs 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and all are welcome.

• The Orillia Lions Club Spring Classic Golf Tournament is on June 1 at the Couchiching Golf and Country Club. Tickets are $70, which includes golf, dinner and prizes. For details, call Bill Belfour at 326-0931.

• The Orillia Wind Ensemble hosts its Sounds of Summer concert on June 1, at 7:30 p.m., at St. Paul’s United Church. Tickets are $20 adults, $17 seniors and students are $5. Purchase them at the Orillia Opera House box office or at the door.

• Davenport Subaru is the site of a ‘Teddy Bear Hospital’ event on June 1, from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. “Bring that special friend to get their blood pressure and heart rate checked. We will also have our doctor and nurse do stitches and eye surgery, what ever needs done,” organizers said. There is also a CRA rally scavenger hunt event, starting at 9 a.m. All donations go to the Teddy Bears of Hope Foundation.

Sunday, June 2

• The Orillia Youth Symphony Orchestra’s spring concert is on June 2, at 7 p.m. Admission is by donation. The show is at St. Paul’s United Church.

• Tex and Friends provide the music at a jamboree at Warminster Legion on June 2. Event is from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and admission is $6.

• North Country Baptist Church hosts its 14th anniversary on June 2, at 11 a.m. There will be music and lunch. The church is at 4011 Burnside Line.

• The Coldwater United Church Choirs’ spring concert is ‘Broadway and Beyond’ on June 2. Tickets are $10 adults, $4 children and $20 for families. They will be available at the door.

Tuesday, June 4

• The next Ladies Coffee Hour at Hillside Bible Chapel is on June 4 at 10 a.m. Lunch and childcare available. Last session until September.

Thursday, June 6

• The Lagoon City Follies take the stage at Beaverton Town Hall on June 6-8. Tickets are $15. The show is part of a range of events planned throughout June in honour of the 50th anniversary of Lagoon City.

• The Orillia Stroke Survivor and Caregiver Support Group meets the first Thursday of the month, from 10 a.m. to noon, at Helping Hands (210 Memorial Ave.). For information, call Louise at 326-2553.

Saturday, June 8

• The annual garage/plant and bake sale at Eady Community Hall is on June 8, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Refreshments will be available. A garage sale only will be held June 15 (same hours). Eady Hall is on Eady Station Road, between Oro-Medonte’s 10-11 Concessions.

• A spaghetti dinner will be held at Free Methodist Church on the Hill on June 8, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tickets are $5 ages 11 to adult, $3 for ages five to 10. Under age 4 admitted free. To order tickets, call 325-8762.

• A dance will be held June 8, at the Longford Community Centre. Music by Country Memories. The event is from 8 p.m.-midnight. Admission is $5.

• The Brechin-Mara Legion, hosts a dance on June 8, featuring the ‘Newfie Chicks’. Tickets are $10 per person and are available at the Legion. Doors open at 8 p.m. Call 705-484-5393 for details.

• A concert at Heritage United Church on June 8 features Fern Glen and Fiddle Heads. Tickets are $12.50. Call Harry at 689-1700.

• Held in support of Camp Couchiching, the Orillia Vocal Ensemble’s We Sing concert is on June 8 at St. Paul’s United Church. Admission is by donation and show starts at 7:30 p.m.

• The Butterfly Luncheon and Bake Sale at St. David’s Anglican-Lutheran Church is on June 8, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Lunch is $6.

Service club news

As posted on Northumberland Today, May 27, 2013.

COBOURG - The Rotary Club of Cobourg has three major fundraising events each year; The Waterfront Festival Arts & Crafts Festival held on the July 1 weekend; Sporstman’s Night held in February and Ribfest held in August. These three events raise nearly $200,000 each year and these dollars are held in a separate account and then invested in a wide variety of projects -every thing from The Cobourg Community Centre all the way down to providing dollars towards the purchase of new uniforms for the Cobourg Legion Pipes and Drum Band. None of the dollars raised are used for club costs, which are covered by annual membership fees.

All funds are administered by various Rotary Club Committees dealing with the individual resident’s (Special Needs Committee) ; youth work (the New generations Committee); international needs (World Community Service Committee); youth education (International Youth Exchange Committee); local literacy initiatives (Literacy Committee) and for major projects, the Club’s Projects and Community Events Committee.

Cobourg Rotary Club members serve on as many as three different committees during each year. Dollars to be invested are and administered by individual committees for amounts up to $3,000 and those over $5,000 must be approved by a majority vote by all club members.

If you have ever wondered just where all the dollars raised go, the following will provide a clear picture of the dollars provided during the first ten months of the Club’s current year which runs from July 1 to June 30.

August

• $3,000 to the United Way Backpack program.

• $1,000 to the Cobourg Clippers Midget Softball Team to help offset costs for the Canadian Championships in Fredericton.

• $500 to the Cobourg Dragon Boat and Canoe Club to assist young members attend the National Championship.

September

• $7,736 towards the cost of Camp Enterprise.

October

• $3,200 towards the Water in Honduras project, in cooperation with the Toronto Rotary Club, CIDA and Care Canada.

• $1,500 to the Rotary Club of Battambang, Cambodia, to assist in the purchase of a Tuk Tuk to be used by the Battambang Women's Shelter for transportation (in co-operation with Rotary Club of Whitby Sunrise).

• $3,000 to support of the Port Hope High School, East Northumberland Secondary School and Cobourg District Collegiate Institute West High School "sweat equity" project in Kilema, Tanzania, for school maintenance materials and travel assistance for 18 students.

• $3,500 to Sleeping Children Around the World for the distribution of bed kits in India.

• $5,000 to MSF (Doctors Without Borders) to assist with the medical needs in a terrible situation in the Upper Nile State, South Sudan.

• $2,500 to the Medical Brigade/Friends of Honduran Children for the purchase of medical supplies, drugs and support supplies to be distributed during a medical visit to Gracias Honduras.

• $1500 towards the construction of a wheel chair ramp for a handicapped person.

• $717 to the Salvation Army to assist with cost of dental work.

• $1,500 to the Cobourg Library to support their annual Share Your Stories contest.

December

• $14,605 to the Transition House Coalition of Northumberland for the purchase of 15 metal bunk beds and 10 vinyl mattresses following an outbreak of bed lice.

• $587 towards the repair of a furnace for an elderly woman.

• $1,000 to the The Giving Tree with matching donation from the Port Hope Rotary Club.

• $60,000 to the Cobourg Community Centre. This the third of five $60,000 installments. Rotary has now paid $180,000 of its $300,000 commitment

• $1,000 to the Giving Tree for their clothing collection program (This was matched by the Rotary Club of Port Hope)

• $1,000 to the Santa Clause Parade

• $2,400 to the Church on the Hill for an inflatable obstacle course.

• $1,490 to the Amarok Society to support their “Teach a Mother – Change the World” program. Amarok Society teaches uneducated mothers how to read and write, and then teaches the mothers to be neighbourhood teachers – educating their own and their neighbours’ children every day in their homes, with astonishing result.

• $1,450 to support the Cobourg Festival of Poetry including a workshop to be held by award winning Canadian poet Ken Babstock to be held in April (Poetry Month)

• $1,000 to support the Guatemala Literacy Project. This project qualified for matching grants so the Literacy Committee’s donation was leveraged up to $3,500 as follows: Cobourg Rotary donation $1,000, 50% match from the Rotary Foundation, 100% match from District 7070 Dedicated Funds, 100% match of the D7070 Dedicated Funds from The Rotary Foundation.

• $132 for tread for the ramp built by Rotarian Al Rose for a disabled resident.

• $7,737 is Cobourg’s share (almost 50%) of the amount provided by the six Rotary Clubs in Northumberland to Camp Enterprise.

January and February

• $12, 962 to Transition House for new bunk beds and mattresses.

• 5,000 to the Cobourg Legion Pipes and Drum Band for a new uniform.

• $1,000 to support a nurse in Cobourg to go to Argentina for the Work the World program.

• $1,068 to purchase teaching aids for the Lawson Outdoor Education Center.

• $2,000 to the 6th Cobourg Scouts to attend the Canadian Scout Jamboree in Alberta in July

• $500 a year for five years for fees for a child to join La Jeunesse Choir

March

• $1,489 for the purchase of an electric wheel chair for an MS patient in Cobourg.

• $750 to assist with funding for a special bed and mattress for another MS patient in Colborne.

April

• $2,500 to the Center for Individual Studies for their academic awards program. The Center helps individuals who need training, retraining or upgrading in todays information based society.

• $1,500 to support Emma and Julia Mogus with their "Book with No Borders" program. Following their presentation to the club, members coughed up another $1,500 in cash! The program donated 15,000 books to First Nations in Northern Canada.

• $1,000 to help with expenses for student Rebecca Lasaer to do a sweat equity "Me to We" program in Ecuador.

• $1,695 to support a local Community Safety Net program - a unique safety awareness and educational program that saves lives.

• $4,430 to Rotary International Polio Plus.

• $5,000 to Emmanuel International Canada for materials and services to construct classrooms and latrines in Malawi.

Bill Johnson is a member of the Rotary Club of Cobourg.

Seaforth man distributes 6,000 bed kits to children in the Phillipines through Sleeping Children Around the World

As posted by the Seaforth Huron Expositor May 24, 2013.
By Susan Hundertmark, Seaforth Huron Expositor

After a first visit to Sri Lanka distributing bed kits to needy schoolchildren a year ago, Chris Hills couldn’t wait to get more involved with the Canadian charity Sleeping Children Around the World.

The Seaforth man volunteered to take on the responsibility of team leader and just returned from his first of many trips over the next three years to the Phillipines.

“These trips are beautiful and tragic all at the same time,” says Hills, adding that a $35 bed kit can improve living conditions for an entire family in the Phillipines.

Sleeping Children Around the World was founded in 1970 by Murray and Margaret Dryden, of Etobicoke, who wanted to see every child in the world benefit from the comfort of a good night's sleep. The bed kits provide a mat or mattress to get a child off the concrete or dirt floor, a pillow, sheet, blanket, mosquito net, five t-shirts, three pairs of shorts, a rain poncho, a towel, flip flops and school supplies and are made in the countries where they are distributed to support the local economy.

“Murray started the organization after tripping over a child sleeping on pavement and he thought that he could help that child get a better night’s sleep, he could do better at school and be more successful,” says Hills of the organization’s beginnings. “I met a guy who still had his blanket and bed mat from a bed kit he got in 1998 – he’d been through university with it. The fact that somebody did something for him changed something for him. ”

In the Phillipines, the children who receive the kits are living in 10-foot by 8-foot tin shacks with dirt floors and no running water or toilet. Many of the families earn enough to spend $1 a day on the family’s food.

“They live in absolutely desperate circumstances and it’s quite tragic when you talk to the parents. They are dirt poor and get embarrassed talking about it,” he says, adding that Sleeping Children representatives talk to the families to find out what they can add to the bed kits that would be helpful.

“In the Phillipines, they all said Vitamin C because they can’t afford fruit. They eat mostly rice and sometimes fish. All these mangoes and beautiful fruit around them and they can’t afford it,” he says.
While the Sri Lanka trip took Hills took a rural area where the residents were subsistence farmers, in the Phillipines, he saw poor urban families who can’t grow their own food.

Hills and his team, which included Sharon Flanagan, of Mitchell, helped to distribute 6,000 bed kits during their most recent trip.

While each family will only receive one bed kit, Hills says the mosquito netting, which is specially treated with insect repellant, is large enough to cover most of the dwellings the families live in.

“I saw one family of seven living in the space the quarter of my kitchen. We don’t realize we’ve won life’s lottery living here in Canada,” says Hills.

Describing the slums as “totally Dickensian,” he says he’s still never seen happier children than those living in the slums of the Phillipines.

“They didn’t beg – they just wanted to be picked up and hugged,” he says. “In the slums, they still have their family around them and family is everything there.”

As team leader, Hills has the job of taking photographs of each child who receives a bed kit and them sending those photos to the donors who are usually in Canada or the U.S. He points out that 100 per cent of the $35 donation that buys a bed kit goes directly to the bed kit, none of it to the administration of the organization.

“Photography is accountability – it shows where the money went. Everyone gets a photo with a bed kit with their name on it,” he says.

While there’s more work and responsibility in the role, Hills says the perk is more opportunity to travel and distribute more bed kits. He will distributes thousands of bed kits over the next three years but points out that the actual number will depend on the number of donations the organization receives.

“My only regret is I didn’t start doing this sooner,” he says. “It does give a lot more meaning to life. It’s good for everyone to go somewhere else in the world so they can appreciate what they have.”

Because he and his wife Gail made several speaking engagements after returning from Sri Lanka, Hills says he is available to spread the word about the work of Sleeping Children Around the World to any interested groups in Huron County.

“The expectation is that you’ll spread the word,” he says.

Chris Hills can be contacted at kithills@hotmail.com or 519-522-1913.

Dave Dryden and Sleeping Children Around The World Charity

As posted at the Empower Network, May 18, 2013.

I had the privilege and honour to attend a Probus meeting where Dave Dryden, former NHL goalie for the Chicago Black Hawks in the 1960′s, was the guest speaker. The topic was Dave Dryden and Sleeping Children Around The World Charity.

Dave Dryden and Sleeping Children Around The World Charity

The link to the video on YouTube is here.

Sleeping Children Around the World (SCAW), a charitable organization, was founded in 1970 by Murray and Margaret Dryden. This charity is headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and provides bedkits to children in several developing countries.

In return for each $35 CAD donation, SCAW provides a child with a kit consisting of a mat or mattress, pillow, bed sheet, blanket, mosquito net (if required), clothes outfit, towel and school supplies. The kits are created in the country where they are to be distributed. This helps reduce transportation and material costs as well as providing an economic benefit to the targeted area. The organization reports that since 1970, bed kits have been provided to 1,300,000 children. More…

All charitable contributions go directly to purchasing the bedkits. The expenses connected to the volunteers who distribute the bedkits are paid by each volunteer. Administrative costs including the sole paid employee are paid from a legacy fund set up by Murray Dryden specifically to defray the costs of administration and to ensure that all money donated goes towards purchasing the bed kits. There is no promotional budget as advertising is only by word of mouth

Thanks Dave Dryden for showing us a truly worthwhile cause that is making such a difference to so many lives!

What is so great to me is that through this blog I am able to share videos like this, things that I have learned or stories that have touched my heart. What is even more amazing to me is that I get paid very well to share these wonderful stories with you from the comfort of my home and I am having fun doing it! To learn how my online business runs in the background while I have a life click here.

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Bed kits for kids

As posted on Inside Halton, May 17, 2013
Oakville Beaver

At St. Joseph Catholic School in Oakville, the annual Lenten initiative was held to raise money to support the organization Sleeping Children Around the World, which purchases bed kits for children in underdeveloped countries.
With each donation of $35, one child gets a foam mattress, pillow, sheet, blanket, mosquito net, school clothing, towel, backpack, and school supplies.

Each year, the students at St. Joseph’s have the chance to collect donations towards purchasing bed kits on behalf of their class or family.

This year, the staff and students raised enough money to purchase 140 bed kits.

Sleeping Children Around the World celebrates the 100 per cent charity with fifth annual Pinehurst

As posted on Blog.TO, May 14, 2013

Sleeping Children Around the World (SCAW), a Canadian international charity dedicated to providing bedkits (bedding, clothing, school supplies and mosquito nets) to children living in underdeveloped countries, will celebrate the fifth annual Pinehurst Club Breakfast on May 14, 2013.

Canadian hockey legend Paul Henderson will act as keynote speaker. Paul is a member of the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame, was named to the Order of Canada in December, and will be inducted into the International Ice Hockey Federation Hall of Fame in May 2013. His personal story of triumph, including a battle with leukemia since 2010, will set the stage for a presentation on innovative insights and humourous anecdotes not to be missed. Paul's personal connection with the charity began early in his NHL career, playing against Dave Dryden, current SCAW Chair, and brother Ken Dryden.

The Pinehurst Club Breakfast is held annually at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel and raises operational funds through the local business community for SCAW to sustain the organization's strength as it continues its vital work with children in need around the world. This event has heightened awareness around one of Canada's truly exceptional charities within the business community while raising more than $400,000. All of the proceeds from The Pinehurst Club Breakfast will support SCAW’s Legacy Fund, of which the interest supports the operating expenses of SCAW so it can continue to be a 100 per cent charity.

Since SCAW’s founding in 1970, the charity has raised more than $23 million to provide bedkits for more than 1.25 million children in 34 countries. For every $35 bedkit donation, 100 per cent reaches a needy child. For more information on SCAW, please follow the team on Facebook (facebook.com/SCAW100), Twitter (twitter.com/scaw100) or visit www.scaw.org.

Sleeping Children Around the World on YouTube

As posted on YouTube by Sleep Country Canada, May 10, 2013.



Christine Magee talks with Debbie Will-Dryden from the charity Sleeping Children around the world.

'Inner Wheel' Forum At 88th District Conference

As posted on Coastweek Kenya, May 3, 2013.

Coastweek -- Inner Wheel Club of Mombasa President Poonam Thapa presenting the club banner to R.I.P.P.R. Rtn Steve Brown while Susan Brown and DG Geeta Manek looks on.
There was lots of fruitful input from various members. The points raised were :

• The membership being open to spouses of Rotarians, Rotaractors, Lady Rotarians, Female relatives of Rotarians or Inner Wheel Ladies and even members of the community showing keen interest in social work.

• There is only one general meeting per month and additional committee meeting if one is on the committee.

• Inner Wheel offers a tailor made outlet to all those ladies who would rather do small projects than get too deeply involved in community service.

• Inner Wheel friendship and communication between Clubs.

• Kenya and Uganda joining hands to create an Inner Wheel District.

The open session was followed with a talk on Breast Cancer by Antonetta Acharya. She outlined the work undertaken by Breast Cancer Support Group in early detection and prevention of Breast Cancer.

The forum then continued with service reports of the various clubs. It was indeed quite a revelation how much Inner Wheel helps the community in the District 9200.

Various projects were mentioned like supporting old people’s homes, donating bed sheets and blankets, helping the cancer patients, donation of maternity equipment, donation of wheelchairs etc.

• IW Club of Kampala works with SCAW “The Sleeping Children Around the World” project to donate bed kit, (a mattress, pillow, pair of bed sheets, mosquito net, blanket, school bag, towel, basin, a pair of pyjamas, and a pair of slippers) to school going children.

• Other Clubs from Uganda mainly donate food items and assist in medical help wherever necessary.

• IW Club of Nairobi mostly supports Cancer patients.

• The Inner Wheel Club of Mombasa has three main projects; Microfinance, Breast Cancer treatment and support and Secondary or Vocational Education of girls.

They also hold eye camps and provide for the surgery of any cataracts detected during the camp. They hold their annual Christmas party for a Children’s Home, donate wheelchairs and give support to the HEART foundation by donating sanitary napkins to girls.

They raise funds through a Charity walk and depend on the well wishers and friends in the community.

District Governor RTN Geeta Manek in her address appreciated the service to mankind done by the IW ladies.

She reiterated the point put across by IW Club of Mombasa President Poonam Thapa that be it Inner Wheel or Rotary, whichever banner the ladies worked under it was eventually service to the community.

She was emphatic about IW supporting the Rotary in Eradication of Polio. She also stated that more enthusiasm was required to increase the membership of all the clubs.

She planted the seeds of the idea that IW works for a cancer hospital in Mombasa and offered full support after the IW initiative.

DG Geeta Manek was accompanied by Rotary International President’s Personal Representative RTN Steve Brown and his wife Susan.

He shared his experiences of his visit to Afghanistan and the circumstances of girls and women there. He was highly appreciative of the role women play in moulding the society.

The official business of the forum was closed by IW President Poonam Thapa with a few words and quotations.

“Great opportunities to help others seldom come, but small ones surround us every day”. So give a smile to someone and a helping hand to the needy. Be a friend to someone...

“Be an opener of doors for such as come after thee, and do not try to make the universe a blind alley” for “Real joy comes not from ease or riches or from the praise of men, but from doing something worthwhile”.

Do not think you cannot move forward as you may be alone. “I am only one, but I am one.

“I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do.”

Our aim in life should be “I expect to pass through life but once. If therefore, there be any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do to any fellow being, let me do it now, and not defer or neglect it, as I shall not pass this way again.”

As long as we are ready to share happiness “The flower of kindness will grow. Maybe not now, but it will some day.

“And in kind that kindness will flow, for kindness grows in this way.”

After lunch Shamim demonstrated fruit carving and salad decoration in the afternoon session of the forum.

The IW ladies were impressed by her expertise and felt contented on having learnt some skills.

The forum was indeed a great success.

Special thanks go to IW Club of Mombasa Secretary Nafisa Khanbhai and Vice President Gursharanjeet Kaur Sur, committee member Antonetta Acharya and all the members who attended the forum.