Barrie Communauté Nouvelles

Christmas is only sleeps away, and while the anticipation is building for many youth, it isn’t for all. A couple of businesses decided to brighten the holidays for some of the children who need it most, as they prepared a meal and gave away hygiene items at The Refuge in Oshawa Monday.

A newly created organization in Oshawa is looking to motivate residents to get involved in environmentally-friendly and sustainable activities. Durham Trees For Life is the first Ontario-based chapter of The Global Foundation For Social Harmony and Sustainable Development (GFoundation).

It may feel like the most wonderful time of the year for some, but for others, the holidays can be filled with loneliness and depression. But one Oshawa man has found a way to thwart those blues. “Just another day,” said Kevin Owens, a volunteer at St. Vincent’s Kitchen.

After receiving support from the Salvation Army Kettle Campaign to get back on her feet, a Whitby woman is now paying it forward. This marks the first year Lori MacNeil will be collecting donations for the campaign.

With the holidays just around the corner, the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society is asking the public to add one more special someone to their holiday list. The organizations have launched iAdopt for the Holidays, a national adoption campaign to find homes for as many animals as possible during a time of year when families are together and can help their new pet settle in.

Scugog has provided nearly $6,800 in financial support to community groups through its grant program in 2019. The township’s grants advisory committee received 17 applications for monetary aid in 2019 and approved 15 of those requests, handing out $6,760. Scugog’s budget for 2019 included $8,000 for community grants, however the grants committee was unable to meet until March of this year due to the 2018 municipal election.