FOCUS - OCTOBER 2018 9 Betty Somerville FOR MAYOR ELECT The voice for the people. Let’s move Scugog forward. 905-985-8066 / 905-431-4669 / www.bettysomerville.info / facebook.com/BettySomerville / Twitter @BettySomervill8 Today (September 5) the Greenbank Community Association Inc. has received $3,500 from the Canada Post Community Foundation for a vision-screening program that will benefit young children in Durham and York Region and beyond starting in September 2018. Lion/Lioness volunteers in over 60 clubs will carry out the project. These volunteers provide free vision screening for senior kindergarten children in hundreds of schools. The vision program identifies potential vision issues that will affect the ability of a child to learn to their full potential. This grant will provide funding for a new PlusOptix vision screener and allow the current program to expand to additional schools. It is all part of a Canada Post Program that helps make a difference in the lives of Canadian children. The Greenbank Community Association was estab- lished as a Corporation to apply for grants that would benefit the local community and beyond, by means of a variety of projects that would increase the quality of life for all those involved. TheCanadaPostcommunityfoundationforChildren’s vision is to help ensure that every child in Canada is hap- py, healthy, and part of a community that supports and cares for them. Its mission is to have a positive effect in the lives of children in the communities. Canada Post serves by supporting registered charities, school programs, or local initiatives that benefit children. It has granted more than 6 million dollars to over 500 community organi- zations across Canada. To learn more about the foundation, visit canadapost.ca/community For further information contact larrydoble@hotmail.com Free Children’s Vision Program Expands Greenbank Community Association and Canada Post Each year, violence and abuse drives more than 100,000 Canadian women and children out of their homes and into shelters. Basketeers are a generous group of around 3,500 volunteers with large hearts. Our mission is to pro- vide some of the simple necessities and niceties of life, bundled in a basket and gifted to women as they embark on the next chapter of their lives. More than 17,000 women have received a “New Beginnings” basket since 2000. Last year, the four shel- ters that we represent received a total of 175 generously donated baskets! We invite everyone to be part of this special day, bring your basket(s), stay for a while, enjoy some refreshments, visit with other Basketeers and meet representatives from our Region’s four shelters. So mark your calendars and start spreading the word. For those who would like to give a basket, please regis- ter on the website www.basketeers.org through the Give a Basket page. We are not a registered charity, every do- nated basket is a gift of encouragement and support for a woman as she transitions back into the community. 100% of your gift is passed on to a woman identified by one of our shelters. Fill a basket, fill your heart and send a pow- erful message of support to these courageous women. Some of the many baskets from last year. DROP-OFF DAY Saturday November 3, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Greenbank Centennial Hall 19965 Highway #12, Greenbank DURHAM Basketeers