David J. Widmann

Sudbury-Manitoulin Children’s Foundation relies on support from community groups to help disadvantaged children in area

The Sudbury-Manitoulin Children’s Foundation works to make sure that children who have little get a chance at happiness, at least for a little while.

“Some of these children have absolutely nothing,” said Anne Apolloni about the children who benefit from the work of the foundation.

“We had one young girl this summer that came to camp with shoes that were three sizes too small for her,” said Apolloni, who has been executive director of the foundation for the past 12 years.

“We brought out some shoes to fit her and sent some extra shoes home with her.”

The foundation is a registered charitable organization that provides camping opportunities for disadvantaged or abused children 6 to 14.

Since the Send a Kid to Camp Fund began 19 years ago, more than 8,000 children have been given a summer camp experience.

“All the children are referred to us through local social agencies such as Big Brothers, Big Sisters and the Children’s Aid Society,” Apolloni said. “That’s how we confirm that these children are definitely in need. These children either come from socially or financially disadvantaged homes, or they’ve been sexually, physically, or mentally abused.

“None of them would be able to attend camp without the help of the children’s foundation.”

To send children to camp, the foundation relies entirely on private-sector donations and local charitable foundations. One of the most ardent supporters of the Send a Kid to Camp Fund is the Sudbury Charities Foundation.

“They’ve been donating to the Sudbury-Manitoulin Children’s Foundation since 1993,” said Apolloni. “Through the years, they’ve given us $275,000.

“Without organizations like them, there would be no way we would be able to reach the number of children that we’re reaching. I think Sudbury Charities is directly responsible for us being able to send all the children on our list to camp over the last five years.”

Chuck Murray, president of the foundation, agreed. “We’re very thankful to Sudbury Charities for all the money they’ve given us over the years.

“There’s a real need in the community to help needy children,” Murry said.

“We’re pleased to be able to participate in that initiative.”

The Sudbury-Manitoulin Children’s Foundation can be contacted at (705) 983-1946, or by email at smcf@cyberbeach.net.

The foundation’s Web site is www.smcf.com.

For the volunteers with the Angel Pillow Project, it’s all in the eyes.

“The children’s eyes light up when they receive a pillow, but it is the mothers’ teary eyes that tell the tale,” said Brenda Verdiel of the Angel Pillow Project.

The project is a volunteer effort to give hospitalized children a brightly coloured pillow. The pillows provide comfort for children who are scared and away from home, often for the first time.

“I volunteer my services to the Northern Ontario Families of Children with Cancer (NOFCC), and started a Parent Support Connection to help parents through difficult times,” Verdiel said.

“Both the pillows and Parent Support Connection started for families who had to go through the crisis of having a child with cancer in Northern Ontario,” she said. “It has grown to helping parents and children regardless of the illness.”

To date, 492 pillows have been made and distributed by several organizations, such as the NOFCC, St. Joseph’s Health Centre in Sudbury, the Timmins and District Hospital, Toronto Sick Kids’ Hospital, and Ronald McDonald houses in Toronto, Hamilton, London and Ottawa.

“At first we decided to make enough pillows to give to all the children across northeastern Ontario who have cancer,” Verdiel said. “I contacted crafters from the Timmins area and a few from Sudbury. It was a huge success and before we knew it, 492 pillows (were made).

“The first 38 pillows came from crafters in the (United) States. Then we made the push for area crafters and the rest is history.”

The Angel Pillow Project will continue its mission of bringing smiles to children into the new year. Verdiel would like to welcome any craft groups, quilters clubs, senior groups, church groups and individuals who would like to show sick children that “someone cares” to join the effort.

“The pillows are anywhere from six inches by eight inches to 10 inches by 10 inches,” Verdiel said. “All we ask is that an angel be on the pillow. Some crafters have done needlepoint, some use angel material. We have quilted pillows and Angel of Hope pillows.

“The children clutch and squeeze with the biggest smile that lights the room,” said Verdiel. “To many crafters, each pillow represents a child’s smile. If, but for a moment, someone feels that someone else cares, especially at a time of crisis, this can make all the difference. An Angel Pillow takes a little time to make, but gives a lifetime of hope and strength.

“We have a request now for pillows for seniors that have dementia. If we can find the crafters, then this is another area we can go forward with.”

For more information, or to join the Angel Pillow Project, contact Verdiel by phone at (705) 969-1283 or by email at butterflymom06@hotmail.com. Information about the Parent Support Connection can be found online at http://groups.msn.com/ParentSupportConnection.

Damage pegged at more than $20,000 as thieves use van to smash doors

For the second time in a week, Mat-Lyn Games on Notre Dame Avenue in Sudbury has been targeted by thieves.

Using a stolen van, thieves smashed through the storefront and made off with several Sony PlayStation 2 game systems.

Store owners are still tabulating stock to determine if any other stock was stolen.

The incident occurred early Boxing Day.

The damage was obvious.

Owners Ruth-Ann McDonald and Matt Marleau were contacted by police shortly after the 3:30 a.m. break-in, and arrived at their store within 20 minutes to find the whole front of the building gone, most of it glass, window frame, cement and mortar piled and scattered across the interior of their store.

Fresh skid marks still dotted the floor, 15 feet inside the front of the building.

The business owners, family members and friends worked all day Thursdaycleaning up the mess, with plans to re-open Friday to catch Sudbury’s boxing day rush.

The interior took a pounding from the van.

Counters, cabinets and computer systems were destroyed in the episode.

Police say the van had been stolen earlier.

The store was hit by thieves earlier this week, as well.

Anyone with any information on this event is asked to contact Sudbury Police or Crimestoppers.