From page 20

to visit the Toy Bank and spend
their dollars three times
throughout the year.

Perhaps what makes the Toy
Bank so successful is its ability to
bring out the best in people —
clients, volunteers and donors.

While there are the inevitable
tough spots — hard luck has
made some clients angry and
challenging to deal with, and
Rita’s new computer was stolen
on Christmas Day —- the good far
outweigh the bad.

Bicycles are fixed, sanded and
painted by recovering addicts
from a facility just down the
block.

A mentally handicapped man
walked in one day, started’ clean-
ing the bathroom, and has been
volunteering ever since.

People who have been sentenced
to community service hours often
serve them at the Toy Bank, along
with other volunteers who are
there simply because they want to
help.

They are kept busy. All the toys
are washed, clothes are laundered
and mended, furniture, bikes and
even computers are restored.

According to Rita, they end up
throwing out very little garbage.

Any women’s clothing that they’
can’t use for one reason or
another is sent to the Downtown
Eastside Women’s Centre, and the
men’s goes to a Franciscan shelter
downtown,

Excess toys go to the YMCA’s
Crabtree Corner.

The Toy Bank is hoping to
‘receive funding, perhaps from the
_ province, so they can hire a few
paid staff members and expand
' the operation.

To date, the Conroys have paid
expenses from their own pocket.

And Rita has given up more
than time and money — she’s

‘constantly put on hold her plans
_ to keep up with her writing career.
Too busy with the Toy Bank to
‘devote much time to her writing,
she did, however, fi inally “pet
over (her) guilt about. ‘spending
money'on something other than
the charity’ and bought herself
-the computer to write with — the
:computer, alas, that has since

Surveys find
large number
of 55-plus »
wish to. move
From page 19 .
_ West Vancouver seniors.
For more information about

survey. dates. and ‘ocations, call
985-3852.

This is the last instalment of a
‘three-part series in the News
Home and Garden section dealing
with seniors’ housing on the
North Shore. Some of the things
the series has looked at include
‘what seniors want in a new home,
the need for .seniors’ housing,
builders’ perspectives, municipal
viewpoints, NIMBY and reaction
to what is currently available.

Find out who’s im the
SFOTLIGHT ;
every Wednesday in
 . the
North Shore News

‘NVIRON
Operation brings out best in everybody

been stolen.

But the Toy Bank needs more
than just a computer. It needs a
fax machine, a photocopier, your
household donations, and above
all, your cash.

“Lord, we need money,’’ said
Rita. “Somehow we have to get
the word to the public that we
need ‘their $2 a month,"

If you can help with any of the
above, please call 540-8850,

Toy Bank doors are open for
clients and donations from 10

‘a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through

Saturday, and it’s located at 814
Royal Ave., New Westminster,
V3M 139.

Cheques can be made out to the
Toy Bank, and mailed to that ad-
dress.

Rita may already be working,
seven days a week, but she shows
no signs of flagging.

She hopes to see Toy Bank
distribution centres in every com-

44 It means helping a mother
re-entering the workforce choose and
coordinate a new outfit... ¥?

munity one day, all providing the
same {evel of service and caring
that she is determined the original
Toy Bank will maintain.

If you need further testimonial,
here’s one directly from one of
the Toy Bank’s many grateful
clients:

“Dear Mrs. GC,

“Just # little note but a big
thank you for talking me through
my course. I’m paying off my
bills, and Brian and.I are cating
— all the things you said we

should eat.

‘We feel great! Look great too
in the clothing you gave us --
what a blessing to have a decent
wardrobe going into a new job. ;

“Most important of all, we're
happy — really happy, for the
first time in.years.

“When the going gets tough I
think of the things we used to talk
about and I get my head on
straight again. No looking back,

only forward...”

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