Celebration Success!!!!

Tuesday, February 1, 2011, Treasures celebrated 25 years in operation. Many volunteers old and new were in attendance to celebrate. Attendees enjoyed cake and coffee.

One of the original founders, Robin helped with the festivities. The deputy mayor, Vito Spatafora and the local councillor, Lynn Foster were also special guests at Treasures. Treasures was presented with a certificate commemorating the event.

Passing of Volunteers

Jessie K. recently passed away. The Liberal obituary stated that;

She managed the office of Slazenger's Sporting Boods until the outbreak of WWII. Promoted to Lieutenant at the Driver Training School in Kitchener, she met and married a young B.C. recruit, Leonard. After she settled in Richmond Hill. After Len's retirement in 1972, they summered in Haliburton and wintered in Guadalajara until his death in 1982. Back in Richmond Hill,Jessie took up the volunteer life, eventually spending 16 years with Treasure, the non-profit thrift store. In 1996 at age 77, she was Richmond Hill's Volunteer of the Year.

Enid F., another volunteer, also had passed away recently at the age of 96. Volunteers remembered her fondly as the 'ballerina' volunteer.

The twenty-five years of Treasures' operation has seen many volunteers. It is always sad when one has passed away. We cherish the many memories these two volunteers have left us.

Volunteer Contributions

We will be having a series of blog postings that will be contributions from Treasures volunteers. The first in the series will be a poem from one of our volunteers about the range of emotions that new life experience create. I hope you enjoy this.

Change

Change is very frightening,
I don't know what to do,
It can also be exciting,
To try something new.

Why can't everything stay the same?
It would be more relaxing,
Maintaining the status quo,
Wouldn't be so taxing!

It is hard to embrace it,
When it scares me that much,
I guess I just have to face it,
And learn to buck up.

Maybe if I act really quiet,
It will forget me and pass me by,
I will lay low awhile,
Until all the change subsides.

Is all this really good for you?
Does it really make you grow?
How can you tell if it's helping you?
When the progress is so slow.

Change sure is a lot of work,
It's not a lot of laughs,
It's not easy to get used to,
And it's hard to stay on track.

Change is so unpredictable,
You can never tell what's what,
It can seem a bit elliptical,
Moving back and forth so much.

Others have survived it,
So it can't be all that bad,
I think I might try it,
Instead of wishing that I had.

Carolyn U.

Christmas Party Recipe

This year's Christmas Party included party favours of small jars of 'Citrus Pumpkin Butter'. Since, the recipe has been requested, I will post it for everyone to reproduce.

Citrus Pumpkin Butter
makes 24-125 ml jars

1 pumpkin
4-5 oranges
4 cups of sugar
1 cup of honey
5 tsp. of pumpkin pie spice
2 pkg. of Fruit pectin (49g)
4 tbsp. of lemon juice

The pumpkin should be washed, seeded and cut into large pieces. Place the pieces into a large pot and boil until soft and the rind can be easily removed, about 20 minutes. Remove the rind and add grated rind from the oranges, add orange pulp(about 5 cups) to the pumpkin. Add the sugar, honey and spice and puree the mixture until smooth. Place the mixture in a stainless steel pot, and add the pectin. Boil for 1 minute, remove from heat and add lemon juice.


Prepare the jars and lids, in boiling water.

Ladle into prepared jars and process in a canner for 10 minutes, cool and check jar seals.

Excellent on toast. Enjoy!

25th Anniversary of Treasures

"New Beginnings for People and Things" was just an idea before June 1986 when Treasures started as a 8' x 10' booth in the Fantastic Flea Market. Founders, Elizabeth and Robin conceived it as a supportive place for people with mental and emotional problems as well as a well-spring of hope for them to feel useful. On September 1986, the operations were moved to 4 Levendale Road and now resides at 12 Levendale Road.

Treasures will be celebrating its 25th year of operation and there are great plans in the works to mark this milestone. Many volunteers, board members and managers have been involved with the success of Treasures and their contribution is greatly appreciated.

A contribution to our success is the customers who donate many wonderful items. Many hands help make Richmond Hill a better place, by diverting items from landfills and providing a place for people in need.

Volunteer Retires

One of our book ladies has retired. Mary has been with Treasures since the beginning, 25 years ago, performing many duties for the store. Along with maintaining 'The Book Nook', she also wrote the Treasures' newsletter, which was distributed to the volunteers of Treasures.

Mary will be dedicating more of her time to her family, friends, charities and her many other interests that she is involved in.

Thank you, Mary for all your contribution and dedication to Treasures over the years! All of your work is greatly appreciated. Treasures wishes you all the best in your future endeavours.

Mental Illness Awareness Week

Last week's events to bring awareness to the existence of individuals with mental health issues went very well. We started off the week giving away mugs with every purchase, Tuesdays consisted of reusable bag give aways and ending the week with a 50% off sale and cookies for customers.

The week was very successful. Our customers always enjoy sales days and ask when the next sale will be. Information was provided about the importance of this week for the store.