A day of your pay can help a lot of orphans in Africa

I would like to encourage your readers in to consider participation in the Give a Day's Pay program.

Dec. 1 is World Aids Day. Over the past two years, personnel at M a r k h a m - S t o u ff v i l l e Hospital and other hospitals in York Region have raised more than $130,000 to relieve the pain of AIDS in Africa by giving up just one day's pay and donating it to

the Stephen Lewis Foundation. If we all join in, how much more can we do?

The Stephen Lewis Foundation provides funds to ease the plight of women who are ill with HIV-AIDS; to assist orphans and other AIDS-affected children; to support grandmothers, the unsung heroes of Africa, who having buried there own children now care for their orphaned

grandchildren; and to assist the efforts of groups of People Living With HIV and AIDS (PLWHAs).

Consider the huge amount of difference one day's worth of your work can make to a child and his or her grandmother in Africa, and how little difference it actually makes to you. Even if you contribute at minimum wage, seven children could

have the uniforms without which they cannot attend school. With money left over? Imagine what it would do if you make more than that.

These people are in desperate need. There are more orphans in Africa than there are people in Canada. Please, consider working for just one day to help ease their pain. On Dec. 1, donate your pay.

For more information on the Give a Day's Pay program, go to www.giveaday.ca

For more information on the Stephen Lewis Foundation, go to www.stephenlewisfoundatio n.org

You can donate online at either site or send a cheque or money order to

Stephen Lewis Foundation, 260 Spadina Ave. Ste. 501, Toronto, Ontario M5T 2E4.

Andrea Beal Chair: GRAN-Aurora,

King City