Esquimalt, B.C. community volunteer celebrates 75th birthday by providing hundreds of meals for others
Greg never expected to be spending periods during his retirement wondering whether to buy food or pay rent.
“It’s a tough decision,” the 75-year-old says. “Keeping yourself alive or keeping a roof over your head.”
So you can image how Greg felt when he was offered the choice to get a free, hot lunch at a nearby community kitchen.
“Coming here is a lifesaver for me,” he says.
After a few years of being a Rainbow Kitchen guest, Greg decided to become a volunteer.
“What’s the use of being a couch potato?” Greg smiles. “When there’s a place like this you can help out.”
Greg’s been volunteering for more than a decade now, doing everything from tidying up the driveway to picking up produce donations.
“He’s a 75-year-old volunteer that comes every day,” Patrick Johnstone smiles. The executive director of the Victoria Rainbow Kitchen Society says Greg’s enthusiasm is infectious. “There’s no stopping his motivation to help.”
Even on his birthday, Greg stopped by to volunteer over the lunch rush.
“It’s kind of hard to think about yourself when people are in need,” Greg explains.
It’s also hard to believe what Greg requested for his birthday.
He asked for the team to make his favourite meal of Salisbury steak, garlic-onion mashed potatoes and mixed vegetables. Plus an extra dessert.
“Oh yeah!” Greg says, mashing the potatoes. “It’s going to be good.”
But the thing is, the meals are not for Greg.
“He wants the community to feel loved,” Patrick says. “So he provides an entire meal to the community out of his pocket.”
Over the past two years, Greg saved what little he had so he could celebrate his day by serving about 400 others.
“It’s all his finances,” Patrick smiles. “It’s all his love and passion.”
Greg says his 75th birthday celebration has made his big heart feel overwhelmed, which is exactly what he’d hoped for. The best gifts you can receive, he smiles, are the most heartfelt ones you can give.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.