“I made a simple post about offering deliveries to anyone in need during this difficult time,” stated Karine Boucher, owner/operator of the Russell Foodland grocery store, on her business’s Facebook page. “Little did I know this would blow up into something absolutely incredible.”
Within 24 hours of her original post, Boucher received 500 likes on her offer along with 500 shares of her post. Her post earned about a hundred comments and has reached more than 40,000 people globally, through the popular social media site. That was just the social media response.
“On top of that, I received dozens of emails, comments and texts that people in our community wanted to help,” Boucher stated. “People want to help shop and deliver. Wow! Also, the Kin Club of Russell offered to take charge of all deliveries and plan the schedules for all the volunteers interested in helping. And all tips offered to drivers will be donated to our local food bank.”
Boucher and her staff are still amazed at the community response and support for what she described as a post made out of “pure kindness” and no other reason.
“I just wanted to help,” she stated. “I had no specific plan, but thought I could pull this off. I want to take a minute to thank everyone on board with this idea. None of this would be possible without your generosity and dedication. It’s no surprise that Russell Township is the third-best place to live in Canada.”
Groceries are placed in large bins and delivered in bags to the front door of anyone’s home, starting with 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. deliveries. The Kin members and volunteers will not step inside the home or have direct contact with the residents.
Persons interested in having groceries delivered should contact Russell Foodland by email at karine.boucher@sobeys.com with a name and phone number included. A member of Russell Foodland staff will contact them to confirm availability of product and payment method, along with the best time, address and date for delivery.
Persons interested in volunteering to help deliver groceries should contact Nick Beauchamp at nicholas@thebeauchampteam.ca or at 613-894-0950.
