The Harvey’s RV rolled into Orillia to show appreciation to front-line and essential workers.
The fast-food chain’s RV has been travelling across Canada, handing out cards for free Angus burgers or Lightlife plant-based burgers.
Orillia wasn’t on the original tour schedule, but that changed when Harvey’s Orillia owner Laura Dickson won the chain’s Franchisee of the Year award and got a visit from head-office officials. She provided them with suggestions of places to stop in the area.
Friday’s stops included Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital, The Sharing Place Food Centre, the Orillia Youth Centre and Molded Precision Components in Oro-Medonte. The RV then headed to Rama First Nation to hand out the cards to members of the fire department, paramedic services, health centre and others.
“Everybody’s worked so hard during these difficult times, so this is a way we can show our appreciation,” Dickson said.
More than 1,600 cards were given out Friday. Another 1,900 will be handed out Saturday to others in the area.
Orillia Youth Centre staff members were grateful for the gesture.
“For Laura to even think of that shows what kind of person she is. She’s involved in so much in the community,” youth centre director Kevin Gangloff said, noting Dickson also reached out to the centre during the pandemic to see how she could help. “For her to acknowledge the work the staff at the youth centre does is great.”
It’s a small gesture “that goes a long way,” he added.
“It puts smiles on people’s faces. That means a lot, especially these days.”
