Round-It-Off enriches kids' activities

BY WENDY BIRD

Close to 150 children spent  a day recently playing games and eating tasty treats during a year-end celebration in O'Connor Park in the Flour Mill area, thanks to ongoing financial support from Sears and its  customers.

"Without the dollars raised from the Sears Round-It-Off program, we couldn't do what we do with these kids," said Carol Dodge, executive director with Better Beginnings Better Futures,  an organization in the Donovan/Flour Mill neighborhoods that represents the interests of low-income families with children.

"Funding from corporate sponsors like Sears helps us to organize unique outings, workshops and special treats or foods for our children. Their support makes our programs better."

For the last four years Greater Sudbury's Sears store has made the Better Beginnings program the beneficiary of its Round-It-Off campaign, which raises between $12,000 and $16,000 annually.

Customers have the opportunity to donate by "rounding off" their purchases to the nearest even dollar amount. This money is then donated back to the store's local charitable partner.

Better Beginnings is funded by the Ministry of Community and Social Services, but is only given "bare bone dollars" to run its programs for more than 800 children.

"We look to corporate sponsors to help fill that gap and we are very grateful for the support we receive," Dodge said.

The summer session is just one of the many programs offered by Better Beginnings. For more information, phone 671-1941.