NICKY’S POURS IT ON FOR CHARITY

You can count on me to do a “pour” job.

Once again, I will be pouring coffee for (on?) customers at Nicky’s Cafe and Catering during the annual fundraiser for the Regina LeaderPost’s Christmas Cheer Fund.

Coffee Day is slated for Saturday, 8 a.m. to noon, at 1005 8th Ave., near Winnipeg Street. As per tradition, the nice people at Nicky’s will donate all proceeds from coffee sales to a great cause that benefits four Regina women’s shelters — WISH Safe House, SOFIA House, Regina Transition House and the YWCA’s Isabel Johnson Shelter.

The L-P’s Christmas Cheer team for Coffee Day is as follows:

8 a.m. to 9 a.m.: Brenda Indzeoski, Tim Switzer.

9 a.m. to 10 a.m.: Ashley Martin, Will Chabun.

10 a.m. to 11 a.m.: Murray McCormick, Amanda Amberson.

11 a.m. to noon: Me.

“Yes,” says Kevin Foley, “you will have the Broncos hat.”

Kevin and Perry Makris, the coowners of Nicky’s, are right-thinking Denver Broncos fans. Accordingly, they are also co-owners of a Broncos-style Santa Claus hat.

Lately, Nicky’s is serving up cinnamon buns and the Broncos are serving up turnovers.

The hat, by the way, was a generous gift to Nicky’s from Craig Smith.

When Craig was in charge of player personnel for the Saskatchewan Roughriders, he frequently made scouting excursions to Denver. Knowing that Perry was a Broncos fan, Smith brought back the hat after one trip to Colorado.

“That’s the kind of person Craig is,” Kevin says. “Craig and his wife Cathy are such great people.”

No arguments here. No arguments at Nicky’s, either.

Like so many local businesses, Nicky’s is a people-oriented establishment — one that assists various initiatives in the greater Regina area.

“The restaurant Nicky built has always been very community-oriented,” Foley says. “Everybody understands the importance of good causes in our community and how people are proud to help out.

“There are lots of smiles and holiday cheer.”

Nick Makris, Perry’s father, founded the restaurant in 1986. Sixteen years later, Nicky had a conversation with Leader-Post legend Bob Hughes and, in a matter of milliseconds, this fundraiser was born. (Instant) Coffee Day!

“I will never, ever again complain about any waitress or waiter,” Bob wrote in December of 2002. “All I was doing was walking around for four hours, carrying a pot of coffee and pouring it. But when it was done, my legs ached, my arm was sore, and all I wanted to do was lie down. The folks who work at Nicky’s are carrying dishes of food for full shifts. If they said ‘walk a mile in our shoes,’ I couldn’t. This is not easy work, especially when the place was as packed as it was on Saturday. And they do it with smiles on their faces.”

They still do.

“You always meet salt-of-theearth people,” Kevin says. “That is something Nicky has always valued. It’s not just a job, but being a part of something greater.

“It’s a fast-paced life, but why not stop, have a cup of coffee and a smile?”

Or, how about a sandwich? My recommended flavour: Denver.