Sometimes, it may appear that a business owner cares only about the bottom line.
But, many business owners know that going above and beyond the call of duty is more important than profits.
Orillia’s Foodland is one of those businesses. Owner Max Foster and his wife, Lori, decided to continue a tradition started by the previous owners in which they support seniors and shut-ins by shopping for them and delivering their groceries.
Some of the program's helpers are volunteers, while some are paid staff who like to help out with the program.
“They (seniors and shut-ins) usually email us on Saturdays and Sundays, or we call them and get their orders so we can do the shopping on Mondays,” Foster explains of the popular program.
“We have a bunch of volunteers who come in on Mondays and they walk around and shop for all their orders for them. And I have a gentleman who does the deliveries. Usually, we have about 50 seniors that we shop for. We’re full right now and we have people on the waiting list to get on.”
Volunteer shopper Karen Shunn has been giving her time for the service for about five years.
“Quite a while ago, I don’t know how many years ago, I got asked if I would come and help volunteer with Mrs. Wilma Abernathy (the previous owner’s mother),” Shunn says.
“I do the shopping and call the customers when there is something I can’t get or if maybe there is a better deal, stuff like that. There’s people I’ve been dealing with for so many years. I’ve never met them, but I feel like I know them. I’ll call someone and they’ll go, ‘Oh hi, Karen!’ because they know my voice. It’s really nice," she explained.
Asked why she likes her volunteer job, Shunn says, “I really like the people who work here. They’re all really nice. And I like calling the customers, and I even kind of enjoy the shopping," she quipped.
"I always think if I wouldn’t buy it for myself, I wouldn’t buy it for the seniors. Well, I’m kind of one, too. I’m 70,” she laughs.
Shunn feels her job is very important because some people aren't able to get out of the house at all and others don’t have anyone else to talk to. She fills that role for them.
Delivery driver Bob Lamb has been dropping groceries off at seniors’ homes for about 25 years. While he is a paid staff member, he was selected to do the job because of his relationship with the customers and because he has a penchant for going the extra mile.
“My wife and kids used to help me, but my kids grew up and my wife has some health issues,” Lamb says.
“They asked me to be the one guy doing the job for a lot of reasons, including things like I will put heavy bottles of water away for them. I’ve been doing this for so long, I don’t make mistakes.”
OrilliaMatters tagged along while Lamb was delivering to his regular customer, Carol Flemming. Flemming has been using the service for over a year.
“They’re all great and very helpful. I just had a heart monitor put on and this saves me from all this work,” she said. “And Bob is a really nice person.”
