For over a decade, neighbours have been helping neighbours in Hinton, Alberta. Neighbourlink, a local volunteer-run charity, provides support to fellow residents in need of a bit of help. They deliver donated furniture, provide rides to medical appointments and the Hinton Food Bank, lend equipment, perform minor home repairs and landscaping, and more.
Last month, Neighbourlink received a big surprise – a new cargo trailer – a gift from RE/MAX 2000 Realty, to help make their deliveries easier for the volunteers, who are mostly retirees. Broker Marcel Dery came up with the idea to donate a trailer similar to the ones his office lends to clients for moving. He then spoke to fellow REALTORS® in his office and they agreed this was a cause worthy of their support.
“We all have an obligation to help in our community, and I felt that at least I can help that way,” Marcel explained to The Hinton Parklander. “We have to be so thankful that we have organizations like that in our community. We cannot take those organizations for granted.”
On July 26, 2012, the trailer was presented to Neighbourlink at their storage facility. It was a complete surprise for the charity’s President, Ron Jonson, who was reportedly overwhelmed to see that a local company cared so much.
Marcel hopes other local small businesses will follow their lead and lend their support to Neighbourlink as well. He is also already raising money to be able to donate another vehicle – a new cargo van – to the organization.
