Dennis Day, the president of Fast Trucking Service Ltd., had to lay off 250 of his 350 employees because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Knowing how big of a change this would be for many of his workers, he decided to help by giving $50,000 worth of Co-op gift cards to his workers, so they could pay for groceries while waiting for CERB payments to start.
He was unsure at first about the idea until he saw one of the workers at the grocery store.
“I ran into one of my guys and he had a 10 pound ham and 3 dozen buns, and that’s all he had, cause I know that’s all he could afford,” Day said.
After that encounter, Day told the managers about what he wanted to do and then called Co-op.
“I drove into Estevan myself and picked them up, wrote all my guys a letter, and the girls sent them out. That was on a Tuesday, and I think on Wednesday I had over 100 texts and emails, and phone calls.,” Day said.
He said the business, which was started by his parents, has always felt like a family, and that they are known for looking out for each other.
Questions about COVID-19? Here are some things you need to know:
Health officials caution against all international travel. Returning travellers are legally obligated to self-isolate for 14 days, beginning March 26, in case they develop symptoms and to prevent spreading the virus to others. Some provinces and territories have also implemented additional recommendations or enforcement measures to ensure those returning to the area self-isolate.
Symptoms can include fever, cough and difficulty breathing — very similar to a cold or flu. Some people can develop a more severe illness. People most at risk of this include older adults and people with severe chronic medical conditions like heart, lung or kidney disease. If you develop symptoms, contact public health authorities.
To prevent the virus from spreading, experts recommend frequent handwashing and coughing into your sleeve. They also recommend minimizing contact with others staying home as much as possible and maintaining a distance of two metres from other people if you go out.
For full COVID-19 coverage from Global News, click here.