Greenbank stories, poems to aid African orphans

GREENBANK - A Greenbank family is turning to simple stories and poetry this weekend in an effort to help the countless orphans in peril across Africa.

Inspired by a recent presentation conducted by Stephen Lewis at The Upper Canada College in Toronto which they attended, Greenbank's Massey family has decided to take matters into their own hands by hosting a special fundraiser Sunday afternoon.

From 2 to 3 p.m. on April 20 at the Greenbank United Church, the Massey family will host a 'Children's Poetry and Storytelling Hour For Orphans in Africa'. Admission to the family event is $2 per person and lemonade and cookies will be sold for 50 cents. All proceeds from this family event will be donated to the Stephen Lewis Foundation for easing the pain of HIV/AIDS in Africa.

According to Stephanie Massey, she and her husband were baffled by the conditions in Africa in which children live, and die from. Sparked by Mr. Lewis' presentation, and by the interest of their own children in helping out others across Africa, a plan was hatched.

"I envisioned a storytelling hour," explains Ms. Massey in a flyer she's using to promote the event. "Our neighbourhood children sitting, sipping lemonade and munching cookies while listening to children's stories and poems. How wonderful to share in my love of literature and encourage literacy with our children, while helping a continent with so little basic necessities for their children."

The Greenbank United Church is located at 19991 Hwy. 12, at the intersection with Cragg Road.

For more information on this event, contact Ms. Massey at 905-985-7126.