UNBELIEVABLE – 869 NEW TOYS DONATED TO 26th ANNUAL OPTIMIST FOOD HAMPER/TOY DELIVERIES FOR DEC 26
OSHAWA, Dec 14th: Another giant step to-wards success for the 26th annual Optimist Club of Oshawa members Foor Hampers and Toys deliveries was accomplished to-day. Thanks to the generousity from the clients and patients from Lakeridge Health (Oshawa General Hosiptal 4th Floor Nurses) and the Martin Chiropractic Clinic 869 new toys will a retail value price of $43,450.00 was donated to th Oshawa Optimist club. The Optimist in turn turned the collected toys over to the Salvation Army who will carefully bag them, sorting by gender and age for delivery by the 150 Optimist volunteers this Sunday.
‘This is another part of the festive puzzle solved’ remarked incoming president Stephen Hambley. Both outlets have been strong supporters of community affairs he continued. The Martin clinic has been involved for 19 years and the OGH nurse six years. Lakeridge Health collected 192 new toys and the Martin Clinic the balance of 677 by coming from the Martin Clinic clients.
On Dec. 19th Greg Martin the Clinic co-owner and Ivan Downey, director of family services were interviewed by local radio morning host Terry Johnston on 107.7 FM and 1580 CKDO-AM. over host
FOOD HAMPERS ARE NEXT
This Sun. Dec. 20th Optimist volunteer team gets into high gear. Hampers are being packed into four separate large boxes containing two boxes of staple foods, a meat box including the all important festive turkey and another box continaining fruit.
Over 150 volunteers will gather at noon to delivery the product to needy Oshawa families as selected and screen by the Salvation Army This calvacade of vehicles will be lead by Oshawa Mayor John Gray and Optimist Cenon Governor Tom McNaught.
Funds for this important local community project came from the selling raffle tickets on a GM produced Pontiac Vibe. The Oshawa Optimist have been selling tickets since early May. Over 10,000 manhours have gone into this project. Kasey McBride 19 a graduate from local 1913 Cadet corp and now a private first class in the Canadian Army will make the winning ticket draw. He’ll be marched into the R.S.McLaughlin Armories by 1913 Cadet band prior. He was recommonded for this honor by Cathy Kehoe whose deceased husband Jerry tutoured him during his cadet days. He became an Oshawa cadet at age 12.
Overall cost for this event is estimated at $60,000.00
Anyone wishing to delivery hampers may containing any Optimist member or email info@oshawaoptimist.ca
day.
OSHAWA CLUB ALMOST FOLDED
The Oshawa club became a chartered member on July 22, 1982 nearly folded this past
spring due to the lack of operational funds. Their weekly bingo’s the main fundraiser
hall close it’s doors in whitby going into receivership on Jan. 31st.
Bingo’s has been mainstay for all Zone 8 clubs (Durham Region) which operates clubs
in Ajax, Brooklin,Uxbridge and Whitby. When the local economy downfall hit via auto
plant closures, layoffs and forced retirements Oshawa’s future was best described as
bleak.
Always Optimistic and employing a positive attitude was reduced to seven members
decided to give it one more try to rebound.
Starting with bank balance of $2.86 and a commented budget of scheduled events a
comeback began by using a re-cycled fund raiser a car raffle. Working with a Cobourg
GM dealership Thomas Pontiac-Buick-GMC was started purchasing a 2009 GM Pontiac
Vibe. Wal*Mart SuperCentre located at Stevenson Road & Laval Street have kicked in
a bonus of $1,500.00 in groceries for the winning ticket holder.
Sales commenced during the Victoria Day weekend in May. Despite unwanted growing
pains,the Club has rebounded securing a new attitude serving their mandate of being a
“Friend Of Youth” while serving the community.
Long devoted volunteer accumulated hours of upwards to 10,000 have been clocked in.
Best description it’s been a ‘Cinderella Story’ with an anticipated happy ending.
“To day the membership is rebounding’ remarked a confident new club president Stephen
Hambley. He continued saying the dedicated volunteers reached the 12,000 ticket sold.
Another 3 day successfull blitz was accomplished last weekend at the Metro Food Store
in Bowmanville.
When sales started the 10,000 assemblied only a pipe dream.
It’s been unbelievable as the community as accepted our sales techiques endorsing support
with over 12,000 ticket having been sold.Using smart-well thought out marketing strategy
the Optimist have made the public believers.Ticket pricing was established a $5.00 each,
the bargain basement price consisting of Five tickets for $20.00 being the most popular.
Sales close down this Sunday. Wal*Mart SuperCentre will play host to the final weekend
session running from Thurs. Dec 17, Fri. Dec 18,Sat. Dec 19 from 11:00 am till 6:00 pm
Optimist sellers have been pro-active using high traffic area’s.The largest single sales
day occurred in nearby Cobourg. The Optimist operated a BBQ at wholesale pricing.
This incentive packing prove to be a variable reason for super sales.
Other strong locations included the Downtown Busines Merchants SideWalk Sale,
auto-fest, Oshawa Centre, Five Points Mall they’ve supplied the largest revenues.
A total of 31 weeks will have expired before the draw is made at 2:30 pm. from the
Oshawa armouries (R.S.McLaughlin Memorial Building) located at 53 Simcoe St. North
in Oshawa. The volunteers are deeply committed. Made up from mostly seniors. Their
a kickback as being a non-paid true volunteers. Yes, they event purchase their own
coffee while on duty. Many times the Optimist have upwards to three sales outlets
on the same day.
The Optimst volunteers are a tired group and in some cases even “burnt out” With
winter upon us, the conditions have resulted in lack of a focus point.
CADET GRADUATE KASEY McBRIDE
WILL DRAW THE WINNING TICKET
Oshawa native Kasey McBride 19, will be drawning the winning
ticket on Sunday. The winning tickets has numerous options/ He/She
could take the money of $15K, upgrade or downgrade.The dealership
is flexible.
McBride joined the local 1913 Royal Canadian Army Cadets in
September 2002 at age 12. In 2007, he served as Chief Warrant
Officier and Regimental Sargeant MajorCadet courses including
marksmanship, Cadet leader instructor-drill and ceremonial the
leadership and challenge course at Rocky Mountain National
Army Cadet Summer training centre and the ‘07 central regional
expedition in Algonquin Park.
At age 16 he received the rank of Chief warrant Officier.
He was the receipient of the Royal Canadian Legion Cadet medal
of excellence and received the Lord Strathcone Medal (Highest
Award which can bestowed upon a cadet) in recognition of examplary
performance in physicial and military training.
Prior to joining to joining the Canadian Army as a medical technican (medic)
he successful completed the pre-firefighter service course conducted
at Durham College this past June.
Currently he’s stationed in St.Jean sur Richelieu in Quebec awaiting an
oversea’s assignment.
GENERALS SHUTOUT THE OPTIMIST
Originally it was felt – the winning raffle would be announced at the OHL Major
Junior “A” game between the home town Oshawa Generals vs the Owen Sound Attack.
The Optimist had ,met face to face with Generals officials in early June for approval.
At that point it seemed like “GO”. Our community suggestion was a good one.
After all, the citizens where responsible for the multi million building built in
the first place.
The OHL club rent the GM Centre from the City of Oshawa. Since the original meeting
\Generals officials haven’t returned the Optimist telephone calls or email request.
High profile individuals including the City of Oshawa elected officials, The chamber of
commerce, GM Centre management and Super Fan himself Terry V. Kelly a mainstay
in the errection of the Civic Auditorium couldn’t convince Generals management to host
this important local event. .
ORGANIZATIONS THE OPTIMIST CLUB HAS HELPED
Mt. Sinai Hospital,Oshawa Dodgers Baseball, Durham Region Police,Disabled Children’s Games,
Model U. N. McLaughlin H.S., Lung Cancer Association, Children’s Aid Society,Legion Minor
Baseball.Junior Achievement,Mary St. Community School,Heads First Bicycle Helmut, Safety
Education Durham Region Police, Children’s Aid Society,H.O.B.Y.,Youth Appreciation,Respect
For Law, Wado-Kai Annual Judo Karate Tournament-Essay Contest, Oratorical Contest,CCAA
Volleyball Nationals, YWCA, YMCA, Children’s Wish Shelter. Gertrude Colpus School .Police
Bike Sticker Program, Xmas Food Hampers/Toys, Salvation Army Outreach Truck, Oshawa
Generals Hockey. Ringette Tournament, Minor Soccer, Mushball-”T”Ball, Optimist Day At The
Ball Park , Annual Toy Drive ,Oshawa General Hospital .Ontario Bantam/Midget & Junior
Baseball Tournaments, Minor Hockey .Family Free March Break Skate, Groundwater Festival.
Ride For Sight. DASS – “Dare To Soar”.Police Charity Golf Tournament, St. Anthony Daniel
School, Sherwood Public School.City of Oshawa Canada Day. Council for Exceptional Children,
Sunrise Youth Group, Glen St. School -Adopt-A-School , Eastview Boys & Girls Club,Oshawa
Community Health, Y.W.C.A. & Y.M.C.A., Durham Family Court, National Peewee Girls Tourney,
Durham
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