Starting this morning, a local taxi operator is quietly offering free rides to Sunday church services in exchange for a canned food donation to the local soup kitchen.
7500 Taxi has added two drivers to the four it usually runs on Sunday morning, operations manager Hugh Irwin says.
The low-key offer has not been advertised except in church bulletins.
Reached by SooToday News, Irwin said: "I don't care if I ever get press for this. We like the soup kitchen. And we like helping out."
"This would provide a steady stream of goods every week. Hopefully they'll never have to ask [for food donations] again."
The idea, Irwin says, came from a now-defunct taxi company in Elliot Lake.
'It's our charity'
7500 Taxi has previously supported the soup kitchen by providing free trips there at Christmas.
"It's our charity that we've chosen," Irwin says.
"If every business picked one or two charities and supported them, all our charities would be doing well."
The free rides might also encourage people who otherwise might not otherwise be able get to church, including the elderly and shut-ins, Irwin said.
Under the City's taxi bylaw, drivers must still run the cab meter, but the bill will be charged to 7500 Taxi, he said.
The company had no idea how many customers might take advantage of the offer, which will remain in effect until further notice.
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