A small corner deli in Sarnia, Ont. is paying it forward, one post-it at a time
A small corner deli in Sarnia, Ont. is paying it forward, one post-it at a time
A small corner deli in Sarnia, Ont. is paying it forward, one post-it at a time
A small deli in Sarnia is making a big impact in the community through its ‘Pending Meal’ program.
It was a busy Thursday afternoon inside Vicks Corner Deli and it's not just the tasty sandwiches, soups and salads that are attracting custumers.
But rather an opportunity to help someone in need.
"Everyone and anyone has been reaching out and donating to us,” says Brian Vickery, co-owner of Vicks Corner Deli.
It's dubbed ‘the pending meal’ — a campaign that is helping the downtown deli give back to its community one post-it at a time.
"I think it's a fantastic program, I couldn't be more thrilled to participate in it myself,” says Blake Morrison, a high school teacher who stopped by during his lunch to support the great cause and enjoy a tasty sandwich.
Vickery says he came up with the idea while out walking his dog one morning.
"I ran into a lady that recognized me from the deli, and handed me $20 and said when I went into work, if I saw anyone in need or anyone struggling to buy them lunch,” he says.
Vickery says it hasn't even been a week since they started the program but they are already overwhelmed by the community’s generosity.
"I love the idea, locally supporting the community during this time is fantastic," says Brent Freer, who came by to donate a meal.
The pay it forward program is very simple. People can make a donation in person, online or by e-transfer, and a post-it note goes up inside the deli.
"I thought this was a great idea and I had to come down to support it,” said Megan Nichol who donated two combos and wrote down ‘happy new year’ on her two post-it notes.
To date, over 1,200 soups and 700 sandwiches have been donated.
"It's not just the homeless, but anyone who's struggling, can come in, grab one of our post-its, give it to us, and we'll make them either a soup, a sandwich or a salad,” says Vickery.
“The people that have been utilizing it, are just as happy as can be, and as gracious as can be and that makes that makes everything worth it.”
And what initially began as a temporary way to help people during the winter months, will likely continue permanently.
"People are having a rough time, they're struggling year round, not just in the winter time. So you know if we can keep it going all the time than we will,” added Vickery.
The program is encouraging others to spread kindness. Adam Kilner came down to donate masks that his congregation made for people in need.
"We just want to make sure that people on our streets have access to the things that they need to have access because it's the right thing to do,” said Kilner.
And it's just that, the right thing to do is drawing hundreds of people to this small corner deli — with a big heart.
At least six people died and 24 were wounded in a shooting at a July Fourth parade in the Chicago suburb of Highland Park, and officers are searching for a suspect who likely fired on the festivities from a rooftop, police said Monday.
Former Saskatchewan premier Brad Wall was in contact with a key organizer of the Freedom Convoy anti-mandate protest, providing strategic advice before and after the Ottawa occupation began, according to court records obtained by CTV News.
A 41-year-old man will be charged with kidnapping and rape after an Edmonton girl who was missing for more than a week was found, Oregon City Police said.
COVID-19 cases are rising again in Canada, with the two fast-spreading Omicron sub-variants known as BA.4 and BA.5 to blame. CTVNews.ca has a guide to what you need to know about the new variants.
The federal government says it has signed a $20-billion final settlement agreement to compensate First Nations children and families harmed by chronic underfunding of child welfare.
More witnesses are coming forward with new details on the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol riot following former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson's devastating testimony last week against former U.S. President Donald Trump, says a member of a U.S. House committee investigating the insurrection.
The family of an Ottawa man killed in a Canada Day crash in the west end says Tom Bergeron died exactly as he lived: selflessly thinking of others before himself.
A Puslinch, Ont. woman says her driveway will need to be repaved less than month after she came home to find strangers working on it without her prior consent.
An overnight camp in Huntsville was forced to cancel for two weeks at the start of the camping season due to a COVID-19 outbreak among multiple staff members.
A preliminary hearing for a cold case homicide that struck a chord with Barrie, Ont. residents roughly 28 years ago got underway Monday with the man accused appearing in court.
Former Saskatchewan premier Brad Wall was in contact with a key organizer of the Freedom Convoy anti-mandate protest, providing strategic advice before and after the Ottawa occupation began, according to court records obtained by CTV News.
An 'incredibly ill-advised stunt' is being investigated by the Toronto Transit Commission after video emerged of two masked men carrying Canadian flags while surfing on top of a train.
Hanna Kovalenko was leading a comfortable lifestyle with her husband and two little girls in Mariupol, Ukraine, when all of a sudden her hometown became the epicentre of a full-scale war.
More than dozen fire trucks from municipalities across Montreal's South Shore are battling a major fire at an industrial produce building in the Monteregie on Monday morning.
The CAT ferry, which sails between Yarmouth, N.S., and Bar Harbour, Maine, has sold more than 20,000 tickets so far this year, that’s up from the 15,100 tickets sold as of June 7.
Over 90,000 Prince Edward Island residents will see a top-up in their bank accounts to help alleviate the pressure of record inflation rates affecting the cost of living in the province.
Rick Bowness doesn't mind being the second choice. The new Winnipeg Jets head coach took part in his first press conference Monday, a little more than a week after first target Barry Trotz declined the team's offer because the veteran wanted to spend more time with his family.
A 41-year-old man will be charged with kidnapping and rape after an Edmonton girl who was missing for more than a week was found, Oregon City Police said.
