Kelseys Roadhouse Restaurant in Owen Sound, which was heavily damaged in a fire this week has donated its food to the community.
Owen Sound Salvation Army Food Bank and Family Services Coordinator Alice Wannan says in a Facebook post, “In the midst of tragedy, 30 employees who have lost work, and a family who has lost their business of 6 years – Kelseys of Owen Sound has reached out to The Salvation Army to help others!”
The organization, which runs the local food bank adds, “With freezers full of food – owner Jaspreet Lall chose to help his community during a time of unimaginable loss. We thank you Kelseys! ”
Wannan explains to Bayshore Broadcasting News, says on August 1st, the day of the fire, the Owen Sound Fire Department helped connect Lall with the Salvation Army. “In amongst their own devastation, it’s amazing to me that they thought about helping others as opposed to letting that food go to waste.”
She adds, “It happened so quickly, probably within 30 minutes of that phone call we had our truck and trailer up there and they were loading it in, and they were just so generous. At the end of the day, you can only imagine they just needed to go home and wrap their heads around what had happened but they waited fro us to get there and just were so helpful in making sure that anything that was able to be used safely was given back to the community to help us. So it was truly incredible.”
“It’s certainly been a real blessing to us here at the food bank during a time of the year where donations are a little bit lower, to have this food to be able to give away to our families,” says Wannan.
She also notes 30 employees are out of a job now due to the fire. She says the Salvation Army is doing what it can to those staff members who need it as well. “It really hit home how quickly life can change for people and their circumstances,” says Wannan.
Numerous commenters under the Salvation Army’s Facebook post said they were moved by the donation, with one saying they teared up while reading about it, calling it a ‘selfless contribution.”
Another said to Kelseys, “We will all remember this generous gift when you reopen. Thank you for thinking of others in your devastating loss.”