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w w w . o a kv ill eb ea ve r.c o m O A KV IL LE B EA V ER Fr id ay , A ug us t 1 3, 2 01 0 8 Letters to the editor Re: Cupboard is bare at KSM, Aug. 6, Oakville Beaver Please let me begin this letter by explaining how deeply concerned I am about the present and future of this com- munity. The fact that Kerr Street Ministries (KSM) does not have enough food to spare for those in poverty leaves my stomach with an ill feeling; but even worse, a hunger in the stomachs of some Oakville residents. I am an Oakville resident, but current- ly I am living in a Third World country. I witness the pangs of poverty every day in my small community; the amazing thing is that people still take care of each other. They make small sacrifices to assist their neighbours, or show their apprecia- tion. Consider the example of a 12-year-old boy, whom I met at a local youth organi- zation at which I volunteered. Third World neighbours help one another, we should, too On the last day of our program, he gave me a homemade card and a cup- cake to thank me for being a friend. This boy does not have a computer at home; does not have video games; does not have designer clothes (he wears worn-out clothes, sometimes tat- tered and torn); yet, he spent what small change he had to buy me a cup- cake. His actions can teach us all a lesson in giving. So what is our excuse? Why cant we do the same for our neighbours? If the goal of the com- munity is to make Oakville the most liveable town, we still have a lot of work to do. There are 14,000 com- munity members who live below the poverty line (as read in the article). My challenge to you, fel- low residents, is to take action now against this issue. We need to stop with this mentality that waiting another day is okay; that it is someone elses problem; that another person will take initiative. No. It is time to stop talking about what we might do one day, and do it today. It does not take a lot to make a real, tangible differ- ence. If the majority of resi- dents in this town donated one dollar or one canned good, KSM would have $165,000 dollars or 165,000 canned goods. I believe that most peo- ple can afford to do this, especially in such an afflu- ent town. If you have to, sacrifice your coffee for a day. The question comes down to this: Are you will- ing to sacrifice something small so that a family can eat? If the answer is yes, please visit KSM now and do anything you can to help. Please, just take action do not wait for the change, be the change. We do have the money, we do have the time, we do have the heart to change this unfortunate situation that exists. When I come home to Oakville in two weeks time, I want to see another article in the Oakville Beaver with a headline that reads KSM receives out- pour of support from com- munity. Will you take this chal- lenge, Oakville? STEFANIE DRAGAN, OAKVILLE/WEST INDIES Each year, The Oakville Beaver contributes over $300,000 in support of our community Canadas award-winning newspaper is recognized as Oakvilles leading source for news, information and advertising in the community Committed to supporting our town www.oakvillebeaver.com 905-845-3824 P U B L I S H E D T H R E E T I M E S A W E E K