$400 donation from Petawawa Esso to Food Bank and OSPCA

By Patricia Leboeuf | December 17, 2020 | Local
Three people, one holding a mid-size dog presenting a cheque
Retired firefighter and volunteer Petawawa Esso gas jockey has donated all his tips to local charities. On Dec. 15, he, his dog Tucker and co-owner of Esso Keri Radford presented a $200 cheque to Michelle Osmond from the Petawawa Pantry food bank. (Photo by Patricia Leboeuf)

T’is the season of giving and former firefighter Jack Lapierre has taken the concept to heart.

To help out his friend and co-owner of Petawawa Esso Keri Radford as she struggled during the pandemic, Lapierre has been volunteering his time at the pump. Any tips he receives from his work is set aside, and the collected funds are then matched by both Lapierre and Petawawa Esso to be donated to a charity or charities of choice.

On Dec. 15, the Petawawa Pantry Food Bank and the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Ontario SPCA) Renfrew County Animal Centre each received a $200 contribution.

"These are our soft spots," said Radford. "Everybody has them: a charity that they can associate with maybe for one reason or another."

This isn't the first time Lapierre has offered up his time and tips to help the food bank. In May, he spent a few weeks at the pumps, and his $100 in tips, matched again by himself and the Radford, turned into $300 for the Petawawa Pantry.

Three people, one holding a mid-size dog presenting a cheque
A $200 cheque was made to the Renfrew County Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA) on DEc. 15. The money collected from tips working at Petawawa Esso was matched by Jack Lapierre and the gas station. A cheque was presented by Lapierre (left) and co-owner Jordan Radford to OSPCA community development coordinator Heather Jobe. (Photo by Patricia Leboeuf)

Representatives from the local Ontario SPCA and the food bank were grateful to be receiving these funds. Every dollar will help the animals in the SPCA’s care, and to feed local people in need.

And that need has grown in the area since the pandemic began. Though the numbers aren't as high an increase as Pembroke and other regions, more people have been using the Petawawa Pantry so donations like these help tremendously.

Knowing this, Lapierre plans to continue his tip fundraising at least twice a year for the foreseeable future.