12/16/15 Program provides light at end of tunnel for families in need

Program provides light at end of tunnel for families in need: Ted Long's project is helping to spare families from missing out on Christmas, Vito Pilieci reports.

The Ottawa Citizen
Friday, December 16, 2005
Page: D3
Section: City
Byline: Vito Pilieci
Source: The Ottawa Citizen

No matter how hard she has tried, for Lynn Featherstone, the spirit of giving is one she can't satisfy by herself this time of the year. The disabled single mother of two has a hard enough time making ends meet for most of the year, but the holiday season is especially tough.

"I am disabled, on a disability pension, and I have two adult children who live with me. Both are disabled as well," Ms. Featherstone said. "Christmas is a very depressing time for us. Money is very tight. A lot of people don't know, they don't realize there are a lot of people who can't afford Christmas dinner."

Her son, Shawn, is 34, while her daughter, Jackie, is 37. Jackie, too, has a daughter. They all live together in a tiny home, just off Iris Street near the Pinecrest Shopping Centre.

To help pay the bills, Shawn works at an area butcher shop sweeping the floors and taking out the garbage for minimum wage. The money he collects, he gives to his mother to help pay the bills.

But it's not enough.

For Ms. Featherstone, Christmases are often no different than any other day. "I can remember so many times (Christmas) was just a normal day," she said. "My son doesn't understand. He thinks, 'everybody is having turkey, where is ours?' How do you explain that to a normal child, never mind a disabled child?"

She said Christmas time was especially hard while her children were growing up and she couldn't give them what other parents provided.

A few years ago, however, a single telephone call from Ted Long changed things.

Mr. Long, who organizes the Spirit of Christmas, provides needy families with food and presents at Christmas.

"He is the light at the end of our tunnel," Ms. Featherstone said. "When there was little hope, all of a sudden there was a lot of hope and a lot of joy."

Last Christmas, Mr. Long called to ask if he could drop off a Christmas basket for her and her family. She agreed and waited.

When he showed up on her doorstep with a turkey, heaps of potatoes, carrots, dried foods and presents for everyone in her house, she could barely contain her emotions. "You can't imagine what was in these boxes," she said. "If it hadn't been for Ted, we would not have had your traditional Christmas dinner."

Mr. Long says he does not seek recognition. What he wants is to spare a few from the experiences he had growing up in a poor area of downtown Toronto. Christmases were almost always forgotten in Mr. Long's house.

His Spirit of Christmas charity has been helping hundreds of less fortunate families to partake in a traditional Christmas for the past 14 years.

Last year, he helped 220 families in Ottawa. This year, he has already identified more than 200 families he hopes to help. "It's not out of reach and I know that it will happen," he said. "I panic the closer I get and it is coming so fast. I know over the next seven days ... the numbers will be going up rapidly."

Mr. Long identifies families that need his help by working with various social services agencies around Ottawa. They refer people they believe are in particular need of help during the holiday season and Mr. Long shows up with his brand of Christmas cheer.

But with less than a week to go before his packages are due to be sent out, Mr. Long is about $2,000 short of what he needs.

He plans to hold a fundraiser tonight to help raise the money.

The event will feature an Elvis impersonator, a 50/50 draw and Woody from Chez 106's The Doc and Woody show as MC.

Mr. Long is confident the event will be enough to help him raise the money he needs to ensure a happy Christmas for hundreds of Ottawa families.

And for people such as Ms. Featherstone, Mr. Long's efforts are truly appreciated. "It takes your breath away to know that there is a man out there who cares about those who are less fortunate. It just means so much."

The Fundraiser

What? The event will feature an Elvis impersonator, a 50/50 draw and Woody from Chez 106's The Doc and Woody show will be the night's MC.

Where? Sonny's Bar and Grill, 1119 Baxter Rd., across from Pinecrest Shopping Centre.

When? Tonight, 8 to 11 p.m.