Putting it on their tab
New Brunswick-based trucking company paying for drivers’ meals from Glenholme Restaurant
Throughout March, a New Brunswick-based trucking company is paying for drivers’ meals purchased from a Glenholme restaurant renowned for helping truckers in the early days of the COVID pandemic.
It will soon be one year since COVID first hit Canada and Crystal Blair, owner of the Glenholme Loop Petro Pass Restaurant (Angel’s Diner), offered hot meals and free showers for truckers when most other establishments shut down or were turning drivers away.
“When this all broke out a year ago, she was one of the first ones to step up to the plate, and she's continued,” said Dave Davenport, IT manager on behalf of Donnelly Farms Ltd., based out of Lansdowne, N.B. "That lady there deserves a real big applause, what she's done for the drivers. She's done up lunches for them and given them discounts on meals and it's just amazing what she's done.”
The idea, initiated by owner Dwayne Donnelly, will enable the company's 43 truck drivers to submit receipts for reimbursement from meals purchased at the restaurant throughout March.
Blair first found out about the recognition through a message from one of his drivers, who shared the post.
“It's pretty special, after all this time, that somebody's still there thinking about what I did when COVID first started,” said Blair. “And I’m really happy for the truck drivers, it’s pretty good for them.”
Davenport said most trucking companies pass by Blair’s restaurant when travelling throughout the Maritimes and towards Newfoundland and Labrador. In its Facebook post, the business is challenging other trucking companies to support their drivers in similar fashion.
“I would love to see every trucking company associated with that,” said Davenport. “There's a lot of trucking companies in America and I can't imagine that they all don't go by Glenholme.
Truckers are making sacrifices as they travel across provincial borders and the Canada-u.s. border, said Davenport. Some have not been visiting their homes, instead picking up items from their doorsteps or seeing loved ones from a distance. It can become too much of a burden to make family members isolate for 14 days.
“No matter who you are, no matter what job you do, no matter where you live, no matter what, you cannot say that you don't know at least one truck driver,” said Davenport. “Everybody knows at least one."
Davenport said drivers deserve more recognition for the work they have continued to do. Paying for the meals is one of the ways the company hopes to give thanks to its drivers and Blair.
“They're taking their chances every day – they're still crossing the borders, they're in the hardest-hit areas, they are still delivering.,” said Davenport. “Because they didn't, well, we'd be shut down. Our world would come as to a screeching halt very quickly. Because everything we rely on, day-to-day, is brought by a truck driver.”
Any gesture of appreciation, even as simple as a cup of coffee, can brighten a drivers’ day.
That appreciation continues at the Glenholme restaurant. Last month, Blair started packaging $12, to-go lunches, and many customers paid ahead for trucker’s meals. They are now offered on a reservation basis so Blair knows how much food to prepare.
Blair is already thinking about how to commemorate the one year anniversary of her good Samaritan efforts, which might include the breakfast sandwiches she served for $4 back then.
And, she said the recognition from others is “amazing.”
“Hats off to (Donnelly),” said Blair. “(It’s a) really nice tribute for his drivers.”