TBayTel serves lunch

TBayTel answered the call for those in need with a roast beef lunch.

The local telecommunications company sponsored the lunch at the Salvation Army on Cumberland St. on Sunday. Staff and their families volunteered their time to prepare and serve the food. A free shuttle service was available from the Brodie St. and Water St. bus terminals to bring people to Cumberland St.

Maryann Oliphant, manager of customer relationship development for TbayTel, said they raised $1,300 to cover the cost of the meal and the use of the shuttle.

"The need is all year round," Oliphant said. "The need this year seems to be greater than ever before. In our small way we wanted to participate. I think they do an amazing job here at the Salvation Army, which is why we chose this venue to sponsor."

Oliphant said she didn’t know how many people would come to the lunch since it was the first time TbayTel sponsored a meal but she hoped for more than a 100 people.

As people came into the dinning room, the 18 volunteers began preparing plates and taking orders. Among the younger volunteers was Oliphant’s 15-year-old-daughter Kelsie. She was serving plates her mother was preparing.

Kelsie said she and her mom were volunteering at the Salvation Army  Christmas dinner by handing out gifts when they saw the importance of helping others. They were driving home and talked about how they could do more to help, she said.

"It was a really humbling experience," Kelsie said. "I thought it was another way to give back to the community and I really liked helping out at the Christmas dinner."

Kelsie said she plans to do more community service and wanted to get her friends involved as well.

Gail Kromm, public relations and development representative for the Salvation Army, said they were prepared to serve 300 people if that many people showed up.

"People need to know they are cared about," Kromm said. "That is one of the things we are trying to achieve with this dinner that even though they are struggling that they are not forgotten and there are people here that are willing to help."

Kromm said she was thrilled when she heard TBayTel wanted to sponsor the lunch. She said she hoped it sparks other companies to do the same so the Salvation Army can have meals throughout the year not just during the holiday season.