West Lake donates $600
to family in need
Tuesday, December 21, 2004 - Natalie Miller
The story of a family in need touched the hearts of staff and residents at Picton’s West Lake Terrace.

A distant relative of a few staff members at the long-term care home has a 21-month-old son who has cancer. The mother of the boy was forced to quit her job in order to take her son to many medical appointments, explains Julie Clarkson, West Lake Terrace’s life enrichment co-ordinator. The baby’s father works full-time and the family has two other children.

When staff and residents learned of the local family’s situation in mid-November, they began to fundraise. They put up notices in the home and a collection jar at the nursing station. One staff member held a candle sale at the long-term care home, donating all of her profits to the fund, which was beginning to grow.

“The response by the residents themselves is amazing,” says Julie.

The residents’ council donated $200 to the fund. The collection grew to about $600, says Julie. West Lake presented the family with the money Wednesday. They were very grateful, says Julie.