Skyline Living, a Guelph-based residential property rental company with apartments in Sault Ste. Marie is justifiably proud of a local apartment building manager and volunteers who recently delivered food to at-risk, vulnerable tenants at all five of its local properties.
There have been three separate food drop-offs in partnership with Harvest Algoma, the first involving a fresh produce drop off for Terry Fox Place tenants Thursday, April 9.
That was followed by a potato delivery for tenants at all five Skyline Living properties Friday, May 1, the third delivery Wednesday, May 6, again involving potatoes at all five properties.
Skyline Living’s five Sault properties include Terry Fox Place, Village Green Apartments, Heritage Place Apartments, Lake Street Apartments and Ruscio Villa.
Vicki Peterson, Terry Fox Place Apartments resident manager, was approached by two of her tenants, Dan and Samantha Gauthier, who volunteer for the Harvest Algoma Food Resource Centre. They wanted to help their at-risk and vulnerable neighbours, hoping Peterson could help.
Harvest Algoma Food Resource Centre is a hub for food and food preparation donations. The centre gathers food donations and distributes them across the community to over 29 agencies.
Peterson and the tenants met to decide what they could do for the tenants of their building.
“We were in constant contact with each other to decide what kind of donations that could help the tenants that are at risk or couldn't get out to get food, especially fresh produce. The first drop off consisted of bags with romaine lettuce, fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, and either a bag of apples or half a cantaloupe,” Peterson wrote in a Skyline news release issued Monday.
“Tenants were thrilled!” Peterson said.
BJ Santavy, Skyline Living vice president, wasn’t surprised that her staff stepped up to help Skyline’s Sault tenants during these difficult times.
“I’d expect nothing less from Vicki! In the time that we’ve worked together, she’s always put her tenants first and created a close community feeling in her building. Her actions express the core of who we are as a company. Our mission is to bring passion, energy, and determination to make a positive impact with every interaction. Vicki, her staff, and her tenants recognized a need and worked hard to make a difference.”
On Thursday, April 9, Peterson, her assistant Trevor Childs, and tenants Dan and Samantha Gauthier loaded up their cars at the Harvest Algoma Resource Centre and dropped off 30 bags of fresh produce to the tenants at Terry Fox Place.
They practiced safe social distancing to ensure they weren’t endangering anyone.
550 bags of potatoes were dropped off to tenants in the second and third drop-offs.
“At a time when people are socially distant, it’s easy for the vulnerable members of the community to fall through the cracks. That’s why good neighbours are essential,” Skyline stated.
“I'm so excited to do this! I really enjoy working with Harvest Algoma and I look forward to doing more for our Sault Ste. Marie community,” Peterson wrote in the news release.
