MOUNT FOREST – Longtime resident and community advocate Stuart Husk bid a final farewell to Mount Forest with a Christmas giveaway on Dec. 18.
The event, which Husk labelled the Mount Forest Christmas Giveaway, saw nearly 150 people in attendance.
In the days leading up to the event, Husk announced on the Mount Forest What’s Happening Facebook page that it would be his last event, as he’s decided to relocate.
Although he won’t officially be leaving Mount Forest until next summer, Husk wanted to host a final event for his community.
Having lived in Mount Forest for over two decades, it was an emotional day for Husk, recalling the times he and his wife, Heather Aitken, would put on community events prior to her passing earlier this year.
“I’m really, really proud to do it,” Husk said of the event. “[Heather] did it for years and I wanted to carry it on.
“I just said this year, I wanted to do something,” he explained.
“And I know I went way overboard on it with all the envelopes, the certificates – we have $18,750 in certificates we’re giving out for free.”
The event kicked off at 10am but by 9:30am dozens of cars could already be seen lined down the street of Melissa Crescent and beyond, with the help of volunteer traffic control from the Mount Forest Lions Club.
Group administrator and friend Joe Wettlaufer said when Husk first announced the giveaway in the Facebook group, it generated positivity right away.
As of the morning of Dec. 18, several posts about the event had received hundreds of likes and comments from members of the community expressing gratitude, support and best wishes to Husk.
During the event, cars pulled up one at a time to Husk’s driveway as elves brought a bag with an envelope with $125 to a business, along with an assortment of other treats like stickers, glow sticks and face masks, among other items.
Wanting to keep the event local, each gift certificate handed out at Saturday’s event was purchased by Husk from a business in Mount Forest.
“It’s just something I wanted to do for the community, for Heather,” Husk explained.
“That’s what it’s all about. I want to do it for her and that’s the big thing.”
Not only was Santa Claus in attendance to gather last minute Christmas requests, but the event also featured Wellington County OPP officers and local firefighters.
Members of the Wellington North fire department were also in attendance. Submitted photo
Husk added it’s a great privilege to be able to put on the event for the community and support friends he and his wife have made over the years.
“It’s all for her,” Husk said of being able to honour Heather’s memory through the event.
“[It] takes me at least two hours to get to sleep because I’m thinking not only of her, but what we’re doing for her.”
Of his love for the community, Husk said not only does Mount Forest have everything one would want in terms of local businesses, but the people are great, too.
“It’s a great community,” he said. “You look what [you’ve] got here and people are out to help one another.”
Husk added the community’s been very supportive in helping to make the event happen.
He put out a request for volunteers on the Facebook page and it wasn’t up long before he had over two dozen people wanting to help with the event.
“It wasn’t on a half an hour, and I had 29 people that wanted to help, but I only needed six …
“Everybody wants to help and that’s just the way it is in Mount Forest.”
Husk added he wants to express his appreciation to everyone that leant a hand to help in making Saturday’s event a success.
“And the remarks we’re getting on the What’s Happening Mount Forest, I think it’ll take you an hour to read them all,” he noted. “Everybody’s happy about it.”
Wettlaufer added, “I haven’t seen one negative comment, and I read them all.”
Santa also had his elves on hand to assist in spreading the Christmas cheer. Submitted photo
Wettlaufer said it’s not the first time Husk or Aitken have organized community events.
He specifically referred to the “Chalk it up” event, a campaign to salute front line workers with positive messages drawn in sidewalk chalk, which the couple put on in 2020.
“Stu and his wife have been very inspirational to our page over the years,” Wettlaufer said. “[They’ve] brought out a lot of positivity.”
He added the Christmas giveaway event has likely been the most inspirational thing the community page has seen – and one of the most important for local businesses.
“I don’t know if there’s anything that can top this; he’s definitely going to leave a Christmas to remember for Mount Forest,” said Wettlaufer.
As group administrator, Wettlaufer said one of the questions he’s been asked in private messages is how the community can give thanks and keep the tradition going for Husk and Aitken after Husk moves.
Husk said he just wants to be able to help people and this giveaway was another way to do just that.
Wettlaufer said it’s been one of his happiest moments to witness the positivity Husk has spread throughout the town, especially during Christmas time.
“It’s amazing to see something so positive in the community happen, I’m almost speechless,” he explained. “Just coming and talking to Stu, it’s an emotional ride.
In an email following the event he added, “[Stuart] and Heather will always be part of Mount Forest with all they have done.
“I’m just one of hundreds in the community that genuinely admire the selfless acts of kindness our community has seen.”
