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Wednesday, April 18, 2007 · Page 13 Volunteers' efforts feed needy families worldwide BY DANIEL SCHWAB An army of more than 500 volunteers was hard at work in Leamington Monday, canning thousands of pounds of turkey meat that will be shipped to some of the most impoverished places around the world. For the ninth year, a local branch of the Mennonite Central Committee has devoted its time, up to 15 hours per day, to cooking, canning, labeling and packing about 17,000 cans. "We'll do 30,000 pounds here in one day," said local MCC chair Marlene Schmidtgall. Each can contains about two pounds of meat and Schmidtgall said many families can blend it with rice to make it last longer. But she added that she's heard "a real horror story about one person who ate from a can for a month." Going hungry is not an unfamiliar experience for some of the local volunteers, particularly those who recall living with famine and poverty during the Second World War. But for most, the appreciation they feel for never having to go hungry is motivation enough to help those less fortunate. Martin Rahn, a federal meat inspector and one of the organizers of the local project, said he grew up hearing stories about his parents living in desperate times and their lives being saved by selfless volunteers. Rahn said his parents were forced into German relief camps during the Second World War and THE JOY OF READING ­ AM 800 Radio personality Mike Kakuk, left, reads a story with a little help from kindergartener senior Tony Froese and teacher Danielle Barnewall. Kakuk and his radio show cohost Lisa Williams visited Sun Parlor Junior School's Kindergarten classes Monday as a part of Guest Reader Week. Until Friday, the school will be having more than 30 guests come into classes to read for students. Firefighters, members of the Essex 73's, retired teachers and parent volunteers will all have participated in the weeklong event. Volunteers stir a steaming vat of turkey meat inside the Mennonite Central Committee's mobile canning unit in Leamington Monday. Since October, the vehicle has visited two provinces and 11 U.S. states, working with volunteers to cook and can thousands of pounds of turkey meat that will be shipped to needy families around the world. Chad van der Muren, B.Sc., R.M.T. REGISTERED MASSAGE THERAPIST 4 Whitewood Avenue, P.O. Box 69, Cottam, ON N0R 1B0 Phone: 519-839-6393 Email:cvandermuren@gosfieldtel.com "would've died without food aid." Now, he said the joy he experiences after a day of canning is "an unbelievable rush." "With every passing can you know that a family is going to get a meal," he said. "It's really rewarding." Many of the MCC's meat shipments are sent to countries in Africa, Asia and South America. Regions in the United States that are reeling from the devastation of tornadoes or floods will also receive the food. Last year, 73,900 pounds were sent to Haiti, 67,200 pounds went to Ukraine and 5,000 pounds were distributed throughout Canada. In total, cans were shipped to 25 countries. Call Today! It pays to advertise! 519-776-4268 CRIMINAL DEFENCE LAWYER Why miss work or school for court? Impaired... assaults... threats... traffic tickets Criminal Pardons at a reasonable cost. THANK YOU! Essex Community Services wishes to thank the Chartered Accountants, and their staff members who volunteered their professional services for our annual Free Income Tax Clinic, in partnership with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario · Paul Foster C.A. · Richard Banwell C.A. · BDO Dunwoody LLP · PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP · Tiffany Burke C.A. With their assistance 101 clients were helped by this program CHRISTINA SWEET Weekend and evening appointments in Essex Barrister-at-Law 519 253-0140 Res. 519 776-8983 Enter to win an umbrella with $200.00 in BIA Bucks attached!! BIA Bucks can x! be spent in Esse Simply Shop Essex, mail or bring in your sales slip. Sign the back with address and phone included. Essex BIA, 33 Talbot St. S., Essex N8M 1A6 Photocopy your receipt if you need to keep it! The whole month of April! Draw will be held May 1st. L EAEAL D NO D 3 ONLY CASH & CARRY $ 50 PRICING $ 35 Victoria Ave, Unit 7, Essex, ON N8M 1M4 (519) 776-4231 · www.essexcs.on.ca 30 MUSIC CD STAND N HOW AS S T BE NO *MAY OR CHEVAL MIRROR 6 ONLY $ DECORATIVE SCREENS 6 ONLY QUILT RACK 6 ONLY 30 6 ONLY $ END TABLE Thank you for shopping local! $ ONE TIME ONLY · LIMITED QUANTITIES 130 $ MISCELLANEOUS END TABLES 3 ONLY 150 CORNER TABLE 3 ONLY $ 30 $ DRUM TABLE 6 ONLY 150 25 MAGAZINE RACK 2 ONLY $ 40 317 Talbot Street N. 519-776-7001