No ‘Little’ contributions from Wallaceburg woman

With the giving spirit of the Christmas season still fresh in everyone’s mind, a Wallaceburg woman wanted to see some recognition for her mother.

And when Heather Little Blake asked people to send notes about Ila Little… the Sydenham Current mailbox filled up quick.

“My mother ran the Salvation Army thrift store, food bank, soup kitchen and the Christmas hampers for over 30 years in town,” Heather said.

“When my dad was alive he did what we called the bread run every day. He would go to the doughnut shops and grocery stores and pick up their day old breads and pastries and would bring them to the food bank for people. He also did a banana run too when they were available. Basically any food that was free he would get and give to people.”

Heather added: “If my parents got a call after hours for food, they would get it and run it to people’s houses that they knew needed it. I’ve even seen my mom gather cat food and drop it on a ladies porch because she knew she was too proud to ask for help, but had no money for her cats. Mom did this with food and Christmas hampers too, if she knew people were too proud to ask, she would get stuff delivered to their door steps.”

Ila, a mother of seven children, was also a girl guide/pathfinder leader in her spare time.

She also does nursing home visits, twice a week, still to this day at the age of 74.

“She walks to the nursing home to visit,” Heather said. “At Christmas and Easter she makes sure everyone there gets a small gift. Since the Salvation Army church closed, she has taken on the pastoral part herself and goes to the hospital or nursing home, day or night, if someone is dying to be with that person or their family.”

Heather said the Christmas season at her house growing up would start in November.

“It was the start of hamper registration,” she said. “That goes until sometime in early December, then there is a cutoff date and it’s time to figure out how many families need help and what groceries were needed and toys, find a place to do hampers and then volunteers to help. That was all on my mom to do.”

Heather added: “I remember Zellers would donate a bunch of money for toys. Mom would take me and we would fill cart after cart with toys, almost every day and night in December was devoted to Christmas baskets. Picking up donations and getting them ready.”

The night before hampers went out, Ila would stay up all night making sure everyone had what they needed, Heather said.

“And also help those who registered after. The next few days was delivering the hampers. When I was young, Christmas morning would come and it would just be me and my Dad. My mom was in bed sick and tired. I never understood until I got older what all she did to help everyone in this community have a good Christmas.”

Heather said her parents would also help with the kettles at the stores, counting money in the evenings.

“They both did this for nothing in return,” she said.

Currently, Ila dedicates some of her time to the Mom’s Baby Cupboard in Wallaceburg,

“She’s always buying and collecting up baby items to give to single moms or new moms with not much money to get baby needs,” she said.

Knowing that her mother would not seek out any recognition for her years of dedication and volunteering, Heather decided to take to social media.

She asked her friends to send notes to the Sydenham Current, talking about Ila and how she has impacted their lives.

Here are the responses:

“I just wanted to let you know how great people George and Ila Little are. I remember one night my husband and I were in Wallaceburg and George had been out delivering bread to people, he had a lot left and didn’t want it to go bad so he gave it to us and we shared it with friends of ours that needed it. Ila is the kindest woman I have ever met. No matter how sick she has been, her family always comes first. Her son Edward was my brother-in-law and he was a great man.” – Vicki Howe

“I have known her for a long time from youth group at Salvation Army. I have some amazing memories about her there. She (would) spend endless hours with us practicing lines for Christmas plays, making and baking apple pies to take home, and sleep overs and all nighters in the church. Who lets a bunch of kids play kick the beach ball in the chapel/main church area. Ila she did, that’s who! Man I wish that my kids could have half the experiences she let us kids at youth have!” – Rissa Fox

“She (has) been helping my family for years, ever since I was a little girl. She is a real nice lady, she will help anybody.” – Hazel Caron

“I am writing to you today in honour of Ila Little. A beautiful soul. I believe she has done more for this community than anyone else. She has touched thousands of lives. As long as I have known her she has given unconditionally her time, her love, her all. She gives hope and restores faith. It is amazing how every year she gathers Easter and Christmas gifts for ALL the elderly at the nursing homes and hand delivers them. She will put herself aside to go be with someone in their final moments. Years of giving of herself to Christmas hampers, soup kitchens, church dinners, homelessness, hunger, and more. She is everywhere in the heart of this community. When I think of the woman she is and all she does, it truly brings tears to my eyes. She gives to all and asks nothing in return. She just prays it gets better for all and does everything in her power to help. She deserves so much more than a write up. She deserves awards. She deserves all the help that she has given to come back to her. She has made a huge difference in my life. She has always been an inspiration. She deserves to be shown the appreciation she deserves, even though she did not ask for it. Volunteer award, citizenship award, she deserves both.” – Cindy Rooke

“I am writing to say I am glad I met Ila little and I knew her when she was working at the Salvation Army church. She has a big heart. She would give her heart and soul to anyone. She would show you how to give someone another second chance in life. I couldn’t ask for a better person to say this about. Thank God that he has blessed us with her.” – Christine Palmateer

“She has helped me through my whole life. If it was not for her, I would not be the person I am today. She has the biggest heart I have ever seen. She helps everyone she can every minute, of every day. This lady is amazing and I love her like a mother. I met her when I was young and in trouble. She had taught me how to love people and help whenever I can. I look up to her and think about her everyday. She is just a wonderful women in every way. She is truly an angel sent from heaven. If there were more people like her, this world would be a better place.” – Jerry Chauvin

“She is a very hard working person for this community and she has been since I remember. When I was younger, I always remember Ila working for the Salvation Army and helping out people in anyway that she could. She never had a lot herself but she has always given to others. Her health has not been the best in the past few years but she keeps on giving, she is just a wonder. I wanted to tell you that when we started Mom’s Baby Cupboard five years ago, there was Ila willing to give us things for babies and she has never quit. She comes in with her and her son Doug and her friend Joan, pushing carts of things for the baby cupboard, each time that we are open, we call her our cupboard angel, she is just fantastic and she does so much to help us and it is great that someone is going to acknowledge what she does for us and for the community. If anyone will get a crown in heaven, it will be Ila.” – Sandra Johnston

“I have had a number of occasions over the years when I would be contacted at the church by someone in need who was looking for groceries or a place to sleep for the night. These requests would come in “after hours” when the Salvation Army and other social agencies were not available. Ila Little’s number was always on my speed dial as someone to go to in such cases and sure enough, that compassionate voice on the other end of the phone would say, ‘Brian, don’t worry about this. I will take care of it.’ I always knew the situation was well in hand under this fine lady’s supervision. Each year at Christmas on the day that food and toy hampers were handed out, there would be Ila Little, not only faithfully volunteering her time to make sure things went smoothly, but also exercising great patience and care to each person coming to pick up their hamper. She is a lady who has a deep, commitment to the Lord and it shows in her life.” – Pastor Brian Horrobin

– Submitted photo