Ward 2 Councillor Michael Vagnini has put on his delivery boy hat and has partnered with some local businesses to ensure vulnerable Sudburians isolating at home can still access essential products.
Earlier this month, Vagnini teamed up with local business owners Brent Battistelli, owner of Battistelli’s Your Independent Grocers, Lonnie Doherty of Walden Home Hardware, Todd Duhamel of Guardian Drugs and the Palsy family of the Lively IDA, to offer free delivery of essential products for those unable to leave their homes.
Carlo’s Transport, as the initiative has been called, was named in honour of the business Vagnini’s family operated in the town of Creighton, now a local ghost town, with the goal that “No One Eats Alone,” in reference to his own annual Christmas initiative.
The intention was to keep his name out of it, as publicity is the last thing on his mind at this time, the city councillor said when contacted by Sudbury.com. But in a community as tight-knit as Greater Sudbury, news travels fast.
Vagnini has always been an active representative of his riding and as such, voluntarily placed himself in self-isolation as a precautionary measure in the wake of the pandemic.
It was shortly after completing this preventive measure that he said he began receiving messages and calls regarding his constituents' inability to access essential products due to the high cost of delivery. Some he said, had been without their medication for days.
He quickly went to work on a solution, which he admits is not exhaustive but the best he can do as an essentially one-man operation.
“Rumours are rumours,” he said in reference to the high delivery charges conveyed to him. “But what I don’t want is people being taken advantage of because of circumstances.”
For more than two weeks now, Vagnini has been personally delivering products to individual’s homes across Greater Sudbury without ever coming in contact with the products. Goods are packed into his SUV by business owners or staff, he said and collected by the constituents themselves, to reduce the chance of transmitting the virus.
He will also be the only one responsible for delivering the products, he said, for the protection of the public and any volunteers whose assistance he has denied.
“That way I can be sure I am compliant and we’re not going to put anybody in a bad spot,” he said. “God forbid someone got sick because of the delivery service we put in place. Our purpose is just to help people.”
The program was initially intended for members of his ward, he said but quickly expanded beyond that. It is also restricted to essential products, to be clear, not trips to the LCBO.
Those looking to have these essential services delivered to them are encouraged to contact the store in question to see if a partnership has been arranged with Vagnini, or contact him personally for more information.
Please be advised that the councillor will be spending a considerable amount of time driving and may take several hours to respond.
More information can be found on his Facebook page. A recent post by the city councillor includes some of the particulars. You can read that post below.
