'Tis the Season!

In the little town of Aurora, stars on the Christmas tree lit up on Wednesday evening. Every year is more exciting than the last. The Salvation Army came with their band and we all sang carols for an hour.

Hot chocolate was served from the Sally Ann trailer. In the town hall, children made decorations for the tree. After the lights came on they climbed the stone wall and hung them on the branches.

Rosy-cheeked babies in strollers laughed and clapped hands with glee and called out to Santa. The Town Crier in his red and black medieval garb, vellum scroll and brass bell welcomed the season with loud acclaim.

Barbara Stoecklin looking every inch Mrs. Santa in her red mob cap, shiny gold rimmed glasses, sparkling eyes and beaming smile, invited the children to the Seniors’ Centre for freshly baked gingerbread and a reading of The Christmas Story.

Cars were parked as far as the eye could see on both sides of John West Way. The children were small, their parents young. Everything was exactly as it should be. The Sally Ann Kettle hung in a prominent place to gather funds for a kindly cause.

To see the Town Hall fullfill its every promises would have warmed former Mayor John West's heart. Grace Marsh, chairman of the initial T.O.A.S.T. committee would have shared his satisfaction in the super planning for the smallest among us.

The funds to purchase and strategically plant the courtyard tree, the focus of the evening's celebration, were raised by TOAST (Town of Aurora Staff Together).

The Christmas tree was their first project. For the past fifteen years they have been making their contribution to needs as they find them. They worked with P.A.C.T. (Police and Community Together) to make the Children's Safety Village at Bruce's Mill a reality and an amazing success.

This Christmas, town employee members of the committee will shop for thirty-two Aurora children who would otherwise not have a visit from Santa. They will provide a specially trained dog for a seventeen-year old girl who suffers from epilepsy. The need was urgent and TOAST took care of it.

The largest part of their fund-raising comes from an annual auction. In 2008, it was down two thousand dollars; no doubt a reflection of hard times.

TOAST is not the only caring organization in town, but it is an example of how people in an otherwise impersonal employment situation come together to create a family environment, look out for each other and anyone else who might need their help.

Like the Christmas tree lights, the seniors’ freshly baked gingerbread, the Salvation Army band and the kettle, they cast a long shadow in the lives that they touch.