Be good today

Now I get it. I have experienced firsthand the satisfaction volunteers everywhere, including those at the Brant Community Healthcare System, feel when they help others.

Wednesday evening two weeks ago, I went to Zehrs on King George Road. It was intended to be a quick trip for some fresh veggies, a bag of milk and a loaf of bread. I would be home in half an hour.

Scanning the items at the self-check out I noticed two teenaged girls standing off by themselves. They had white canes. Gripping her white cane one girl said to her friend, “I guess we won't get groceries after all.”

“Is there something I can help you with?” I asked. One girl replied, “We have never been in this store. We don't know our way around and where things are.” I offered to help.

I set my bag down beside one of the cashiers and away we went.

“We usually go to Food Basics,” the one girl said. “We know that store and they help us pick out what we have on our list.”

The girls held on to the grocery cart as I steered us up and down the isles. They had been at WalMart and decided to come over to Zehrs before returning home.

The first item was fresh potato salad at the deli. I explained the different size containers and placed them into the girl's hands so they knew the relative sizes. Then we wheeled down to the dairy section for a bag of milk. On the way we stopped by the snack food aisle. They wanted Doritos's but as I named every flavour imaginable, their preference wasn't available. It was fun as we joked about all the concoctions.

Near the milk we searched for a Spendido pizza. There was thick crust, thin crust, stone baked- but no Spendido. Eventually, it was a pizza further up near the fresh bakery.

We turned the corner and were on the home stretch headed towards the cashiers. First, a quick side trip for cheddar cheese, down further for the crackers, then a package of beef bouillon (I was almost stumped trying to find this item!) and a taco kit. Mexican food was going to hit the spot so the girls decided they didn't need the pizza after all. So as my two new friends remained alongside the grocery cart I ran the pizza back to frozen goods.

We agreed that we would use the self- check lane if I could swipe their debit card, then turn away while the girl entered her PIN. With the groceries bagged I asked my new friends where they were going. They said they would walk back to WalMart and catch the bus home to their apartment- in West Brant. I offered a ride- “I have my sports car, but with three of us and groceries it will be tight.”

Driving over to West Brant the girls spoke about their studies at the W. Ross Macdonald School. Lindsay was from Timmons and mentioned that David Neill drove up for her assessment. This is what David does when he isn't volunteering as President of the Brantford General Hospital Foundation. Kylie said one of her teachers was Margot Neill- David's wife. It is a small world.

Driving home after saying goodbye to the girls, a commercial came on the radio. The announcer finished the script and said, “Be good today.” Now I know why.

Gary Chalk is senior executive director- public affairs and development for the Brant Community Healthcare System. Brantford general is a regional centre providing primary, emergency and specialized services. The Willett, Paris is a multi-service health centre providing urgent care, primary care and community outreach programs.