MAY 2013

IT TAKES A VILLAGE/SMALL TOWN

5/23/2013

The Green Wood Community is an interconnected web of neighbours who lighten the burden for anyone who is struggling. We may be an office worker or unemployed, a homemaker or a business owner.

Adam (r) owns Queenies Bake Shop in downtown Port Hope where he bakes sweet things and sends some along to our weekly community dinner. Tim (l) is the pickup guy. Incidently, Adam also informally offers ‘complimentary coffee’ (you can pay for an extra coffee that he can, in turn, offer to someone less able to buy one). Cool idea, eh?

Ron, the karaoke-crooning laundromat operator at Port Hope Laundry in the Peter St. Plaza has bravely taken on some pretty unpleasant cleaning projects for us. Ron is also a talented artist (you can see his work displayed on the walls of his shop).

Nicole (l) and Renee (r) have just finished a serious room cleaning job at The Ganny, by the river in Port Hope. They thought it would make a great episode for one of those home makeover shows on TV. Nicole, a recent Addictions Counselor graduate, completed her internship working alongside our Community Outreach Worker, David Sheffield. Renee volunteers at our weekly dinner and in our community garden on Peter St. Their work saved a senior from becoming homeless.

Doug (l) owns Millstone Bread in downtown Cobourg, and Gwen (r) is a member of his friendly staff. They have provided dozens of loaves of bread, sweets and dinner rolls for sharing among our community from their wood-fired-organic-hand-made bakery.

A big ‘thank you’ to these small town heroes who represent the generosity of this community’s support for Green Wood Coalition.

APRIL 2013

COMMUNITY BUILDER AWARD

4/16/2013

Green Wood was presented with the Community Builder Award by Northumberland United Way at their recent Annual General Meeting. We were nominated by the Municipality of Port Hope for this award that recognizes the positive contribution of the Green Wood Community to life in Port and surrounding area. It was very gratifying for GWC Chair, Jeff Knott and Outreach Worker, David Sheffield to accept the award on behalf of more than 100 volunteers who earned this recognition. Presentation was made by Lynda Kay, Executive Director of NUW.

DINER READY

4/16/2013

After losing the use of St. Mary’s School when it was sold in March, our Community Dinner has been on hold while we searched for a new location for the weekly gathering that has served delicious food for more than 6 years. We are happy to report that we’ll be resuming the popular meal on Mondays at 6 PM at the Ruth Clarke Activity Centre on Mill St. S. (between the train trestles). This venue is owned by the Municipality of Port Hope, is fully accessible, and has a great kitchen facility.

These meals are provided by a roster of local church groups and are attended by 70-80 people looking for a good meal and some social interaction.

SIDEWALK SIGHTINGS

4/3/2013

Day or night, the streets of small town Ontario are full of stories. Here we caught Nicole (our student intern) and Tim in the middle of a good one, in downtown Port Hope.