House of Lazarus thrift store property burglarized

and boxes from others that disrespect our property. We see you, this needs to stop. We are working closely with the OPP to end this.” the significant impact of the most recent incident, the organization has chosen to take a firm stance this time, hence the social media post.

Vicki Cane of HOL provided some insight regarding what happened at the property. She explained that a vehicle showed up, and the perpetrators ripped open bags and boxes and left most of what they rummaged through in a mess. The perpetrators did make off with a few items, but only what they could carry in their arms. The license plate of the vehicle that was used in committing the crime is not known, but the Ontario Provincial Police is currently conducting an investigation.

“We really respect the donations that the community gives us,” Vicki explained. “It was really disheartening to see those things dumped on the ground and pilfered through like that.”

Exactly what might possess someone to ransack the property of a local and trusted charitable organization?

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by Brandon Mayer

A local charitable organization has been victimized, and it turns out it’s not the first time. The House of Lazarus is a local not-forprofit organization based in Mountain which runs a thrift store in that town, a food bank in South Mountain, and a satellite thrift store and food bank location in Ingleside. The organization also runs over two dozen programs all dedicated to providing human compassion at a time when people need it the most. During the overnight hours between March 1 and March 2, the donation area of HOL’s main headquarters was burglarized and vandalised.

“To the visitors that destroyed and vandalized our donation area over night, you are not only stealing from us, but those in our community that rely on our support,” reads a social media post made by a member of the HOL team. “This is very disheartening to our staff and volunteers who work so hard day in and day out, to start their day off cleaning up ripped bags

It wasn’t just the property’s donation area that was targeted. A relatively new shed that serves as an electronics recycling shed was also broken into. Although nothing was taken from the shed, the door was badly damaged which is unfortunate because HOL paid to have the shed built just last summer.

This is not the first time that the House of Lazarus property has been victimized. Vandalism and minor thefts have happened periodically in recent years, though nothing has happened to date that was quite as bold as what happened last week. Vicki explained that many people likely see HOL as an easy target, but given

Nursing Sisters from Oxford Mills

saved lives by assisting with medical operations and by caring for convalescing soldiers.

Vicki speculates that it’s a sign of the times. “There are more and more people in the community that are finding it tight,” Vicki added. While falling on hard times is not an excuse for criminal behaviour, it can often help to explain it. Exorbitant prices for necessities such as food, housing, and fuel have all put increasing economic pressure on individuals and families. Ironically, House of Lazarus exists to help people facing those exact struggles.

Vicki is reminding everyone that HOL is here to help, without any need to take drastic measures. “We’re here to support the community in any way we can,” she said. Visit https:// hol.community/ for more information.

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Looking at a plaque commemorating people from the Oxford Mills area who served during World War I, it takes a moment to realise that two of the names engraved there are women.

Amelia and Florence Greer served as Nursing Sisters with the Canadian Army Medical Corps during the First World War. The Greers were a prominent family in the Oxford Mills area, farming on lot 19, concession 5.

Amelia was 42 when she enlisted in 1914, Florence was four years younger.

Just over 3,100 Canadian women served as Nursing Sisters between 1914 and 1918, more than 2,500 of them overseas. They nursed in France, Belgium, Gallipoli and Egypt, as well as in English hospitals. They earned the nickname “bluebirds” because of their blue uniforms and white veils, as well as “Sisters of Mercy”. Canada’s Nursing Sisters

Fifty-three of these women were killed during the war, from enemy fire, illness, or when a German U-Boat torpedoed and sank the Canadian hospital ship, the Llandovery Castle, in June of 1918. All 14 nurses on board were killed. Twice, also in 1918, Canadian hospitals were hit by aerial bombardment. In one of these attacks, on the 1st Canadian General Hospital in Étaples, three Nursing Sisters were killed. A special memorial to the CAMC nurses was unveiled in 1926, and it is located in the Centre Block on Parliament Hill.

Amelia served in France during the Great War, and was invalided back to Canada in 1919, suffering from Penumonia. She was one of

Both Amelia and Florence died the same year, Amelia in June of 1954, and Florence just shortly after, and they are commemorated in interesting ways. The family tombstone lists their parents and sister on one side, but the two Nursing Sisters have their names and dates engraved together on the reverse side of the stone. A second, small stone lies beside the family monument. On it is engraved the inscription:

Amelia J. Seeley served as Amelia J. Greer Nursing Sister C.A.M.C. C.E.F.

29 June 1954 Age 82 That, it seems, is how Amelia wanted to be remembered.

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