Friday November 21, 2003

THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS - It is all about the giving, something area residents and businesses excel at. Giving is also something inmates at the Springhill institution do through their woodworking projects. These cute Christmas lawn ornaments will help decorate the Cumberland Health Care Center's property thanks to a talented inmate's efforts. They will be in place in time for the Light the Way light up on Sunday evening. Above, Jodi Swan, managing director of the foundation places a snowman next to the reindeer beside Morley Wood, an employee at the Springhill institution. In the back is Gini Dobson, an employee of the business office at the hospital.

Annual Light the Way Campaign Drawing Near Fundraising Goal - Sandra Bales - Amherst Daily News
UPPER NAPPAN - The Cumberland Health Care Centre Foundation's annual Light the Way campaign is getting closer to their $65,000 fundraising goal.

The managing director of the Foundation, Jodi Swan, said they were at the $25,000 mark as of yesterday morning. "We're off to a good start," Swan said, of the amount raised to date.

Last year the campaign raised over $50,000 to purchase hospital equipment for the Cumberland Health Care Centre. This Sunday evening at 6pm the foundation will hold their annual hospital light up of the colourful lights that have been purchased through corporate and individual donations to the campaign. The business or individual who makes the largest single donation has the honour of having the star on the top of the tree named after them. This will also be part of the evening which is one of the many activities in the area during the Victorian Christmas Weekend.

As in previous years, the light up promises to be a fun evening full of the Christmas Christmas spirit. "Jerry Randall, the town crier will be there along with music from the Amherst Sea Cadets Band and the ARHS Band under the direction of Susan Taylor," Swan said.

In addition two very special northern visitors will drop by; Santa Clause and Mrs. Claus will hand out chocolate treats to the youngsters in the crowd. A large part of the Light the Way campaign is the mall out Christmas card featuring a cute holiday mouse which solicits public donations. Swan said cards have been sent to every household in Cumberland County, Sackville, Port Elgin and Dorchester, N.B.

"We have a tree on our Web site to track our goal for the campaign," Swan added. She invited invited interested donors to check on the growing funds by logging onto www.chcfoundation.com. All funds raised by this year's Light the Way campaign will be used to purchase an infraredspectrometer and a portable ultrasound machine.

Swan reminded area residents and businesses that Sunday evening's light up isn't the end of the campaign. "Please remember that donations will be received for this very special event until early January," she stressed.

Area residents and corporations aren't the only ones who have already supported this year's campaign. An inmate at the Springhill Institution also contributed his efforts. At the request of the foundation, he constructed outdoor ornaments to be placed in various places outside the health care center. The cute reindeer and snowmen were presented to the hospital foundation yesterday, in time for Sunday's big event.

The request came during a busy time for the Springhill Institution, but when an inmate with the necessary carpentry and painting skills was approached, he quickly took on the project, working during his personal time to complete the ornaments. One look at the wonderfully painted holiday decorations and the inmate's talent, willingness and keen attitude are evident. "This type of project is all about giving back to the community, supporting worthy endeavors and providing meaningful assignments/work tot eh inmates," John Alderson, Assistant Warden Correctional Programs said.

This isn't the only woodworking project the institution is doing for the hospital. They will soon start work on a condiment stand for the health care center's cafeteria.