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Local couple donates OAS payments to charity, challenges others to follow suit

'It’s a healthier community with the fewer people you have in need,' says man who donated cheque to Sharing Place
2019-10-02 Sharing Place Orillia 2
The Sharing Place Food Centre. Nathan Taylor/OrilliaMatters file photo

When Frank Maw and his partner, Betsy Sumner, received their one-time Old Age Security payments to help during the COVID-19 pandemic, they knew there were people who needed the money more than they did.

The $300, tax-free payment was handed out by the federal government to all Old Age Security recipients, so Maw and Sumner, who moved from the Newmarket area to Oro-Medonte in November, began looking for a local organization that could put it to use for the greater good.

“We’re donors to the United Way and the Salvation Army. We prefer to donate to community first,” Maw said.

The couple looked into The Sharing Place Food Centre in Orillia and they were impressed.

“The Sharing Place seemed to be well established and well run. They seem to be a very effective organization,” Maw said.

They decided that’s where they would donate their payments, a combined $600.

“Just watching what COVID-19 is doing, once it settles down, I think there are going to be a lot more people unemployed,” Maw said, noting many companies have found ways to be more efficient with fewer staff during the pandemic and those practices could remain when it’s over. “It’s so obvious that it’s going to be a changed world from a business and economic point of view. If we can do some little bit to ease the burden for people, that’s a good thing.”

He also acknowledges it will take more than $600 to help those in need in the community, which is why he and Sumner are challenging other Old Age Security recipients, if they are in a position to do so, to donate their one-time payments to a local organization helping those in need, not necessarily The Sharing Place.

“I’d sure like to see more neighbours be involved, time-wise and financially, within the community,” Maw said. “It’s a healthier community with the fewer people you have in need.”

Sharing Place executive director Chris Peacock was grateful for the couple’s generosity.

“It’s nice to see people who are new to the community wanting to do that. We’re truly thankful for any support,” he said. “It’s wonderful when there are seniors and other members of the community who are in a position to do something like this.”


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Nathan Taylor

About the Author: Nathan Taylor

Nathan Taylor is the desk editor for Village Media's central Ontario news desk in Simcoe County and Newmarket.
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