A group of Chatham Kent members attended the June meeting of the St. Thomas Elgin Branch as part of renewing our ongoing exchange meetings.

At many of our Branch meetings, we have a book sale table.  Here are
some interested browsers.  Money collected from these sales goes to a
differing special outreach program each year.

These items were sent from Forever Historian 4.0

Ruth Tedford, aged 90, is presented with a lap robe by Sue Cumming.  Ruth’s niece, Louise Tedford, was present to support her aunt.

For our spring outing, members attended a session at The Glasshouse to learn how to make outdoor garden arrangements.

Noelle’s Gift began in January 2013 after the passing of Noelle Paquette.  Noelle was a Sarnia kindergarten teacher with the St Clair Catholic School Board.  Like so many teachers, Noelle paid out of her own pocket for items her students needed, like shoes and boots, coats, school supplies and healthy snacks.  In order to honour Noelle and her caring of and generosity to students, Noelle’s Gift was created.  Noelle’s Gift now provides for elementary and secondary students in the Lambton Kent District School Board, the St. Clair District School board and the French Language School Board.

To date, Noelle’s Gift has provided a variety of things for students.  These include eye glasses, winter clothing, running shoes and boots, clothing and coats, and toiletries.  They have even provided a high school student with work boots for a co-op placement.  Grocery store gift cards have been provided to families in need after emergency situations, the loss of a job or even when a teacher has noticed inadequate lunches.  Specialized equipment has been funded when all other resources were exhausted.   These include wheelchairs, helmets and feeding pumps.  Noelle’s Gift does not fund class trips or psycho-educational assessments.

When a need is identified by a teacher, ECE or EA, a request is made to the principal.  If the request amounts to under $200, the principal can immediately approve it and the items can be purchased and provided to the student quickly.  Requests over $200 must be approved by the administrator of the charity.

Noelle’s Gift recognizes the importance of healthy eating to the well-being of children.  Donations for breakfast and snack programs are made to student nutrition programs.  With the increasing cost of fresh, healthy food, and food insecurity for many families, this is an ever growing need.

Noelle’s Gift improves the lives of children in our community and ensures every child has the chance to grow up great.  It levels the playing field for students and gives them the opportunity to feel positive about themselves.

Over the course of the year’s meetings, donations from the membership were accepted.  The Branch donated $400 in addition to the members’ donations to the total of $1104.

At each meeting, there are dishes of assorted candy on the tables.  For the donation of coins, members take the candy of their choice.  The money raised in this fashion goes to support our local Special Olympics bowlers.  When the donation is presented, there is always one of the bowlers who comes to accept the donation as seen in this photo.  Sharon Butler, one of the Chatham Kent Board members, makes the presentation

This is Becky Spicer receiving Feather in your Hat Award from Lynn Sulman.

Rebecca Spicer has enjoyed volunteering her time using her musical background. Since her retirement, most of her time has been spent with Community Living Chatham-Kent, working with clients for their Christmas Concerts. Some clients were former students she taught in school.She helps coordinate the “box lunch” event each year and on occasion is a driver. She has spent 30 years volunteering and directing choirs at Gregory Dive Church, including special Easter and Christmas choirs. Her efforts are time consuming requiring lots of planning, practices, and performing!

Cleata Morris receiving feather in hat from President Sharon Nicholson.

Cleata Morris, at 96 years of age, is one of our oldest honourees.  She is active in the North Buxton Community Church where she has immersed herself in the life of her community.  She is a member of the Merlin Friendship Club.  Cleata has always championed Black History, often organizing lunches for busloads of people visiting the Buxton Historical Site and Museum.  She is probably most known throughout Chatham-Kent for the “Friends of Buxton Male Choir” that she and Lois Pratt started in 2001.  She directs the choir which gives numerous concerts throughout the year.

Ruth Anne Rhea deserves compliments for her many community achievements. She has been active in her church for numerous years. In the past, Ruth Anne has donated much of her time as a volunteer with the Canadian Cancer Society. Also, she served on the Chatham-Kent Retired Women’s Executive Board for several years. Ruth Anne was President of the Chatham-Kent Branch from 2000 to 2001. Most recently, she was the winner of Seasons Retirement Community’s “Remarkable Resident Contest”. Congratulations Ruth Anne!

One of Chatham Kent’s members, Marilyn Johnston, is involved with a group called Ryan’s Case for Smiles.  This small group of busy ladies have made bright, colourful pillow cases, to the tune of 110 every two months for the past five years, for sick children in area hospitals.  Each pillow case is made of 100 percent cotton.  These pillows are a way of adding a sense of home to the hospital rooms of children.  Originally the pillows were for cancer patients, but they are now available for any child with a serious illness in the hospital.  We are proud to have ladies such as Marilyn as members of our branch.

The bench on display was part of the store front offered by the 2018 International Plowing Match.  Margaret Mills, one of our members is trying out the bench.

This is from our In Memoriam service, featuring Barbara Rose, Nancy Hrytzak and Marg Mazurek.

Margaret Mills and Sue Cummings with 90 year-old Doris Shaw.  They had just presented her with a lap robe from the Chatham Kent Branch.