Sudbury Northern Life Reporter Bill Bradley
He has done it again.
Vale Inco employee Edgar Burton, a machine operator for 30 years, has once again organized one of Canada's biggest food drives. As of Monday, 50 tonnes of food had been raised for the Sudbury Food Bank — two more tonnes than last year's total.
“We are fortunate to have such a caring community that always looks after its neighbours,” said Geoffrey Lougheed, chair of the Sudbury Food Bank board.
Burton was quick to add that “It is everybody's effort that made the food drive such a success.”
The food was collected from hundreds of area businesses, including Vale Inco and its employees.
Burton said he began the job 21 years ago after his daughters asked him what could be done to help out children in their school who were going hungry.
“It is always a challenge to come up with words to describe the good work that Edgar and all our employees do each year,” said Fred Stanford, Vale Inco Ontario Operations president. He was commentating on the nine tons of food raised by Vale Inco employees, two tons more than the company's effort last year.
“This is a wonderful spirit in the difficult times we are going through. Edgar has set this up through his leadership and all kinds of people have come out to help, including his family. I saw his sister collecting food with him.”
Burton's daughters, Christine, Jennifer and Lynn have also been involved in food drives in the various locations where they now reside, said Lougheed.
“We are always proud of Edgar. Not only today, but every day, because tomorrow he will start preparing for next year's drive,” said John Fera, Local 6500 union president.
“We work well with Vale Inco when it comes to providing help for people in our community. It can't be about us. It has to be about them. I just want to thank Edgar for everything he does,” said Fera.
Sudbury MPP Rick Bartolucci expressed congratulations to the employees and the company.
“These days companies need to have a social responsibility attached to their industry,” said Bartolucci.
“Volunteers like Edgar Burton are not paid because they are worthless. It is because they are priceless.”
Mayor John Rodriguez said the charitable work of the Burton family represents the best of the community.
“In the Sept. 8 issue of Macleans Magazine, Sudbury was identified as the fourth most caring community in Canada. Only Guelph, Kingston and Fredericton beat us for the top place. One of the criteria was doing things for other people, the way Edgar has done. We put other people first,” said Rodriguez.
Lougheed also had a heartwarming story to tell about charitable giving.
“I was at a funeral recently and a young fellow came in asking for bus fare change. All I had was a $20 bill,” said Lougheed.
“At first, I had the usual reservations, but I gave that $20 to him with the stipulation that he spend the rest on food. He agreed. Wouldn't you know it, three hours later I was at Dumas Grocers and there he was, coming out with a big bag of food he had purchased with my $20 bill. He saw me, smiled and winked at me. That reinforced an idea I have always had that people are good,” he said.
“This is what makes this community so good. We believe in each other. Edgar Burton knows that. That is how he makes a difference.”
