South Bruce RWTO donates $450 to Our Kids Foundation

The South Bruce branch of the Retired Women Teachers of Ontario (RWTO) has donated $450 to the Our Kids Foundation in support of children who are living with their families while in the care of Child and Family Services in Bruce and Grey counties.

The presentation was made Thursday afternoon during the group's Christmas luncheon at Kincardine Baptist Church.

Carole Machan presented the cheque to Liz Dillman of the foundation who noted that unlike those living in foster care, these children receive no funding from the government even though they are in the care of Child and Family Services and often live in low-income families.

Services provided by the foundation include:
 

• Summer camp experiences - about $60,000 per year
• Winter clothing and holiday meals - about $75,000
• Bursaries, tutoring, learning tools
• Cribs and car seats

The funds come from generous donations to the "Hope for a Child's Future" Radiothon, income from an endowment fund, donations, and special events such as the dinner galas and the Amazing Race event.

"Thank you for your generous donation," said Dillman. "it will assist the foundation in this important work."

About 30 ladies enjoyed the luncheon, catered by pastor Kenneth and Nancy Craig.

Guest speaker was Peggy Stock, provincial president, who thanked the South Bruce branch for all the work it does for its community.

"This is a wonderful branch that does so much," she said, noting that the group had just put together 26 boxes for Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan's Purse.

Stock then took the ladies back in time, outlining the Rules for a Teacher from 1901 when her grandmother taught school. One of the rules was that once a woman was married, she could not continue teaching.

"After my grandmother got married, she never taught again," said Stock, "but she transferred her love of teaching to her children, her grandchildren and he great-grandchildren."

She then talked about the formation of the RWTO which actually began in 1936 when a group of female teachers wanted to get together and play cards, and work on solving the problems for retired teachers. Twenty years later, that group became the official precursor of the RWTO.

"That little group of teachers mobilized a movement that has provided the benefits we enjoy today," said Stock who ended her talk with a poem, "Everything I Need to Know, I Learned from Noah's Ark," and a Christmas poem, "'Twas the Week Before Christmas."

The ladies then enjoyed a Christmas Trivia game, organized by Barb Ross and Pat Emmerton; and some carol-singing, led by Dianne Simpson, accompanied by Jean MacDonald on the piano.

The spring meeting will be held April 27. All retired women teachers are welcome to attend.