Order Commande: 150892
The Gazette (Montreal, QC)
Date: 24.12.2012
Page: A23
Circulation: 147110 Page(s): 1 / 2
What a difference we can make
MEETING MONTREALERS who have been helped by The Gazette Christmas Fund and seeing their appreciation has opened my eyes
It is top down and bottom
up It makes up the moments
we choose to share with each
other
While 125
the amount
the Christmas Fund provides
to each family on the list
is
a sum that might not make
many of you bat an eyelash
it s truly enough to make
H TJ overty solitude and de someone s entire holiday
L spair exist everywhere I ve seen this Very often it s
in Montreal whether we see not even entirely about the
it or not
money for many it s also
These are among the first about knowing that there s
words you ll encounter on the someone out there who cares
Welcome Hall Mission s web
site welcomehallmission
com The 120 year old non
profit
which provides shel
ter food and outreach to those
in need 365 days a year
was
one of the final subjects I was
commissioned to write about
in my series of stories for The
Gazette Christmas Fund holi
day drive
I came across the words
at the end of profiling about
a dozen so called charity
cases as we were heading in
to the last push for donations
leading up to the new year
They gave me pause they
were striking in their truth
It dawned on me that be
fore starting to write these
profiles I was someone who
chose not to see And my
how a little perspective can
change everything
Whether we see it or not
there are real needs that have
yet to be met in Montreal
Whether we see it or not
what we give of ourselves
actually makes an enormous
difference to the lives of other
people Whether we see it or
not those who benefit from
this Fund are so incredibly
grateful for so little that they
are often moved to tears and
endless thank yous
Whether we see it or not
true selflessness is at work in
our communities every day
the streets and the system
These people whom you
may or may not see needing
and receiving help are Mont
realers of all kinds They re
your neighbours and our
so close
Opening your heart sched
ule mind and of course wal
let to people in need can do
citizens As I ve learned first so much good I was so priv
hand hard times can strike ileged to witness first hand
anyone regardless of class what your donations are
colour or creed No one is im doing for people Montreal
mune
Thank you for giving thank
But while at times these you for recognizing this You
stories have been heart are truly changing lives when
wrenchingly sad or unfair you do whether you see it or
or dispiriting I ve also seen not
incredible hope and perse
Here s hoping this spirit of
verance unexpected bravery compassion carries over into
to help them in the first place
And you d be amazed how against steep odds and true
often I d hear someone in love for family and commun
true need suggest that there ity
are others who could use
As my colleague and co
what they re being given Christmas Fund reporter
even more Or that they plan Chris Hanna said when I
to share what little they have asked him about these pro
even farther
files I can say that everyone
Writing about the excep I spoke with was very opti
tional lives and situations mistic and appreciative of
of individuals who benefit the help they re receiving
from The Gazette Christmas And they re really all actively
Fund was one of the most trying to better their lives and
touching and personal re
porting experiences I ve had
in this city
I ve seen single mothers
and proud fathers work
ing tirelessly to build better
Our goal is to raise 1 mil
lion this year and we are so
2013
families
The experience he added
made him realize that
what
healthy financially comfort
able employed independent
people think are problems
lives for their families after actually aren t problems or
unexpected circumstances struggles or even difficulties
rocked their home lives I ve at all
And now that we ve seen it
seen engineers nurses and
wecan tnotseeit
physicists who have come
here from other countries
What we hope as writers
waiting sometimes years for is that you can see it as well
the right papers and proced We hope that these stories
ures to get back to the work are a small window that al
for which they have been low you to take a peek into
trained while mopping floors someone else s life experi
to pay bills in the meantime ence Once you re in we
I ve seen folks like you and me hope it might inspire some
who have lost control because kind of response although
much of that depends on
of social anxiety or depend
whether you choose to see
ence I ve seen others just
down on dumb luck stricken what you are able to give to
your community to your
with bad health or simply
finding themselves slipping city and to people who are in
farther through the cracks in need around you
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RefNo: a251b9
Order Commande: 150892
The Gazette (Montreal, QC)
Date: 24.12.2012
Page: A23
Circulation: 147110 Page(s): © UNLICENSED REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED / REPRODUCTION INTERDITE SANS PERMIS ©
DAVR
364
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RefNo: a251b9