ATHABASCA - Personal protective equipment (PPE) won’t be hard to come by at the facilities operated by the Greater North Foundation (GNF) in the near future, as a corporate citizen has stepped up with an impressive donation that will help keep residents and staff safe from COVID-19 and other infectious bugs.
TC Energy teamed up with Calgary-based distiller Romero Distilling to provide the Greater North Foundation with 24 cases of hand sanitizer, each with 48 bottles; 2,000 face masks; and 300 face shields, which will go a long way at the facilities in Athabasca, Boyle and Lac La Biche.
Much of the donation was dropped off at Pleasant Valley Lodge in Athabasca May 26 and was gratefully accepted by staff there. It will now be distributed to Lacalta Lodge in Lac La Biche and Wildrose Villa in Boyle as well.
“I was excited, very excited, because it was filling a need that we had,” said Athabasca County Coun. Doris Splane, who also chairs the Greater North Foundation board of directors. “There is such a need and we wanted to be prepared for the long haul.”
TC Energy, formerly TransCanada Corporation, is well-known for its contributions to the communities where they work, and actively seek out worthy causes. In this instance, GNF reached out to a TC Energy employee and the next thing you know, they were all posing for pictures with a stash of PPE that will certainly be well-used.
“As an organization that supports low income seniors in the communities of Athabasca, Boyle, and Lac La Biche, we wanted to help them out by providing PPE and were able to procure hand sanitizer, masks and face shields,” said TC Energy’s Wood Buffalo area manager John Salazar
“The communities that GNF operates in have supported our employees and our operations for many decades, and continue to do so as we provide the energy our communities need every day so it was important to us to respond to their request.”
Romero Distilling is usually in the rum business, but with the onset of the pandemic, the company refitted to produce hand sanitizer instead.
“When we reached out to Romero Distilling to purchase hand sanitizers for this gifting opportunity, they quickly responded by sharing the cost of the donation to allow them to give back to the communities, and especially to the care of our most vulnerable population,” said Salazar.
Giving back has always been a big part of the company culture at TC Energy.
“The communities in this area have had our backs for many years, and continue to do so. They are also where our children play, our families grow, and they are co-stewards of the environment where we operate. We give back because it is important to us to be good neighbours, especially in times of need, and because we know we are always stronger together,” said Salazar.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you to TC Energy. It was very overwhelming and so incredibly welcome,” Splane said.
