On behalf of the members of the South-Port Optimist Club, I would like to extend our gratitude to a number of people and organizations who have assisted us in "Bringing Out the Best in Kids" in recent weeks.
Our first annual "Shop With A Cop" program was a tremendous success which provided food for the local Food Bank and a great sense of community spirit. The Optimist Club appreciates the participation of the local Police Force and DARE liason, Officer Chris Coles; Ed Giles from the Salvation Army Food Bank; Marcel Legault and Staff from Legault's Your Independent Grocer; and the students who participated from our local elementary schools.
The students were exemplary representatives from their schools and they also displayed the ethics and sense of leadership that they learned from their participation in the DARE program.
The only possible difficulty that one particular team encountered was not carefully watching DARREN the DARE mascot who, we think, might have placed some extra items in a shopping cart (thus causing our team to go over the limit!).
However, there are no losers in this program as the food will assist local families with hampers that will assist them throughout the coming month. So you are forgiven DARREN.
The South-Port Optimist Club would also like to acknowledge thanks to Liz Ritchie and her beautiful Clydesdale Horses for once again providing Santa and the children of our area with a wonderful Wagon Ride.We would also like to thank the Giant Tiger Management for allowing us to conduct the rides and barbeque at the front of the store and to Port Elgin Tim Horton's for providing the Hot Chocolate.
It was absolutely wonderful to see the smiles on the children's faces and to rediscover the innocence of Christmas as in such questions as, "How is Rudolph, Santa?" and " I am leaving you cookies on Christmas Eve, Santa. What are your favourite cookies?" These experiences are priceless to us and can't be measured by a monetary value or in the amount of time that is placed into volunteerism.
The South-Port Optimist Club would like to extend to you and your loved ones a Christmas Season and a New Year that are filled with happiness, optimism, and good health.
All the best!
Brenda Vanderploeg
President of the South-Port Optimist Club of Southampton and Port Elgin
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