Sharon's Kids
We love supporting local businesses and charities but there is no greater feeling then reinvesting our earnings into those of our own members. Long-time member Sharon Clark has been volunteering with the Durham Children’s Aid Society (DCAS) for over fifty years. She has helped with many projects including preparing sacks of Christmas goodies including gifts, food and warm winter clothing for families with young children who really need the help.
“There are no words to describe the feeling you get when you show up at someone’s home with a sack…the looks on the children’s faces and the tears of joy in their eyes...it’s just indescribable. You just know that you’ve really made a difference,” explains Sharon.
Experiences like these are what inspired Sharon to create her own charity “Sharon’s Kids” in support of the DCAS. This wonderful charity raises money for children to go to summer camp and for school bursaries. During the holiday season, Sharon sets up a cozy Christmas boutique full of adorable hats, scarves and gloves, festive jewelry and shabby-chic home decor. Members look forward to this every year and even bring their friends along! “I just love it. It’s great for stocking stuffers and people who are hard to buy for because there’s so many neat things,” explains non-member, Sylvia Weeks whose daughter encouraged her to check it out.
Unfortunately, we lost Sharon to a courageous battle with cancer in early 2020.
“It was a devastating loss,” remembers Linda Treen, Administration Manager of Oshawa Community, and longtime friend of Sharon’s. “She was an absolutely wonderful woman and her presence will be deeply missed in the branch by all of the staff.”
In honour of Sharon’s memory, Oshawa Community will continue to support the Durham Children’s Aid Society by making annual donations at Christmastime in her name. Also, our members who have been selling their homemade preserves and maple syrup products at the branch will continue to donate %10% of their profits to the DCAS.
“The best way that we can honour Sharon is to continue to perpetuate the work that she was so passionate about,” says Amy Munro, Member Services Representative. “Sharon would be so touched to know that we are picking up where she left off.”