Doug Anthony needed some help moving 10 yards of topsoil as part of a backyard renovation project. He asked a few local youths if they wanted to earn some money. They did, but not for themselves.

“It is heartwarming and inspiring to see such generous and considerate young men like these four,” Anthony said.

The dirt that Anthony wanted moved was under a large deck and not easy to access. Keiran Brennan and Reilly Marchessault, and their buddy, Owen Johnson, spent four hours underneath the deck and outside of it, digging out the dirt, showelling it outside, then lugging it over to another site for dumping and later spreading it out nice and flat for seeding.

All during the dirty job, the four youths practised social distancing. When they were done with the dirty job, they refused Anthony’s offer of payment, insisting that he give the money to the Embrun Food Bank to help support its operation during the COVID-19 situation.

Anthony agreed, and matched the money he was going to pay the four lads, making a total of $500 to the Bons Voisins/Good Neighbours Food Bank.

“Their future looks bright,” Anthony said, regarding the generosity of the four young men.