THE MONTHLY GLEANER | DECEMBER 12 - JANUARY 11, 2025 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | NEWS 6 Anyone with information on Leighton Anthony Reid, whose last known addresses in Jamaica were 2c Cawley Road, Kingston 2 and 1268 Manhertz Road, Waterford, Portmore, St. Catherine and who was married to the late Hermine Marjorie Reid, please contact Donnette Pusey at 1(914) 588-1015 or 1(914) 588-0874. In relation to the settlement of the estate of the late Hermine Marjorie Reid. GENERAL NOTICE THE TORONTO Transit Commission (TTC)’s annual employee-driven toy and gift drive campaign — “Stuff-theBus” — to help bring holiday cheer to thousands of children and families in need has been running from November 30 and will end on December 15. Each weekend, TTC volunteers collected enough donated toys and gifts to fill TTC buses parked outside retail locations across the city. The first Stuffthe-Bus events were on November 30 and December 1, 7, and 8, outside the Walmart Etobicoke Supercentre. All donations will be distributed to charities supporting children and families, including Sick Kids, Abuse Hurts, BDC Dovercourt Club, Community Place Hub, Parkdale Peace Project, and Progress Place, Yonge Street Mission, Salvation Army, Dr. Roz’s Healing Place, Grace Place, and Centenary Hospital Children’s Ward. “Stuff-the-Bus is a wonderful way for us as a community to come together, donate, and support those in need this holiday season,” said Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow. “I am extremely proud of all the dedicated TTC employees who volunteer their time and energy to Stuff-the-Bus and make holiday magic for kids and teens around the city.” SELFLESS DEDICATION TTC Chair Jamaal Myers, who is of Jamaican heritage, thanked the TTC employees for volunteering their time and energy to collect toys and gifts for the holiday season campaign. “Last year, Stuff-the-Bus collected more than 10,000 donations for children and families who needed them most. I encourage all Torontonians who are able to donate to Stuff-the-Bus this year and help make the holiday season brighter for children and families in our community,” he said. TTC CEO Greg Percy said the toy and gift drive campaign has been a cornerstone of its community outreach efforts for 17 years, thanks to the selfless dedication of the commission’s employees. “I am immensely proud of our Recreation Council and all TTC team members who embody our core values by volunteering to support those in need.” Those who wish to donate are encouraged to consider new, unwrapped items suitable for children between seven and 15 years of age. The TTC has also partnered with Toronto Police, who will be collecting toys and gifts for their Cram-A-Cruiser toy drive. Gift ideas for babies and young children include toys, books, and clothing. For tweens and teens (10+), consider hoodies, sports gear, curling irons, makeup kits, electronics, books, board games, scarves, gloves, and gift cards. Last year, through the generosity of Torontonians, TTC employees collected more than 10,000 toys and gifts for families with kids. On December 7 and 8, buses were parked outside Walmart West Scarborough Supercentre; on December 7, outside Walmart North York Sheridan Mall and Sherway Gardens (near Toys-R-Us); and on December 14 and 15, outside Walmart Agincourt Mall. RIDE THE TTC FOR FREE ON NEW YEAR’S EVE And riding the TTC will be free from 7 p.m. on December 31 until 8 a.m. on January 1, compliments of the whisky company J. P. Wiser’s. During this period, customers do not need to tap their PRESTO card or Ticket, debit, or credit card, or deposit a TTC ticket, token, or cash in a fare box. The fare gates at stations will be open for people to enter through. Late-evening bus, streetcar, and subway service will continue until 3 a.m., with the Blue Night Network operating until regular service begins at 8 a.m. The Blue Night Network is the overnight public transit service operated by the TTC. The last subway train departure times are as follows: LINE 1 – YONGE-UNIVERSITY • North from Union Station towards Finch Station, last train leaves at 2:31 a.m. • North from Union Station towards Vaughan Metropolitan Centre Station, last train leaves at 2:27 a.m. • South from Finch Station towards Union Station, last train leaves at 2 a.m. • South from Vaughan Metropolitan Centre Station towards Union Station, last train leaves at 1:50 a.m. LINE 2 – BLOOR-DANFORTH • East from Kipling Station, last train leaves at 2:15 a.m. • East or West from Bloor-Yonge Station, last train leaves at 2:40 a.m. • West from Kennedy Station, last train leaves at 2:18 a.m. LINE 4 – SHEPPARD • East from Sheppard-Yonge Station, last train leaves at 2:57 a.m. • West from Don Mills Station, last train leaves at 3:09 a.m. Toronto Transit Commission launches gift drive Neil Armstrong/Gleaner Writer TORONTO: THE ALLIANCE of Jamaican Alumni Associations (AJAA), in partnership with the Jamaica Ex-Soldiers Association, held its annual Care and Share Christmas programme for individuals in need, international students and seniors at Revivaltime Tabernacle recently. The Jamaican Canadian Association (JCA) fêted children at its annual Children’s Christmas Party a day later at the Jamaican Canadian Community Centre in Toronto. Olive Parkins-Smith, founder and co-chair of Care and Share, highlighted the importance of the work of organisations such as these to make the holiday season more meaningful for overlooked groups of persons. “At this time of year, there are so many people out there that are in need whose Christmas really depends on the generosity of people like us, people who support the programme, that not only care but they’re willing to share what they have so that these people can have a much brighter Christmas. We used to say we try to turn tears of sorrow into tears of joy.” “A lot of times, it’s more rewarding to give of yourself, give of what you have, than to receive, especially at a time like this,” she said. Parkins-Smith said the organisation developed a partnership with the Jamaica Ex-Soldiers Association and, together, they have been hosting the programme for 20 years. She said they also work with social workers and other agencies, like the JCA, to identify some of the families, and their focus over the last few years has been international students. “They can’t go home for Christmas, those who are here. A lot of them depend on the food bank, which is running low.” She said that, where students attend a school that has an alumni association locally, AJAA helps to make the connection so that they have support later in the year. “The other thing is that sometimes, too, there are members of the different associations that have (supported) in the past, and they still do. This is why we ask the students to come out to the annual Care and Share programme ... . It’s not just giving out the stuff, the networking and what people choose to do to help are important,” said Parkins-Smith. In 2022, she received a badge of honour for meritorious service from the Government of Jamaica, for outstanding contribution to the diaspora in Canada. She recounted the early beginnings of the initiative, including, too, the Meals on Wheels programme which she did 22 years ago to assist individuals in need. She recalls that, when her mother moved to New York, USA, she spent Christmas with her but felt that she needed to do something back in Toronto, Canada. Christmas events in the Greater Toronto Area Some of the individuals at a previous Care and Share event. CONTRIBUTED
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