A chance conversation with a local waitress who was having mechanical problems with her vehicle has led to an act of Christmas kindness an entire family got behind.
Brothers Gerry and Ron, and brother-in-law Gaivin (all who have asked not to be fully identified) were having breakfast at JoJo’s Fish and Chips Bana Restaurant recently when their server, Amber, related to them how Christmas was going to be lean this year on account of her 2008 Ford Escape needing a new transmission. Total cost for the new transmission was pegged at $3,500.
Upon hearing this, Gerry decided to ask his four daughters if he could forego giving Christmas presents to his 13 grandchildren in lieu of getting Amber, a single mom, a new transmission.
And, in the spirit of the season, his daughters and grandkids agreed.
Gerry was then off to Empire Abbotsford Recycled Auto and Truck Parts, where Amanda James knocked $500 off the cost of the transmission. Mike from Double MM Auto graciously agreed to install the transmission at a heavily discounted hourly rate, as well as tossing in a new battery.
In the end, the total cost was $1,867.85 and the Ford Escape is “shifting perfectly,” says an eternally grateful Amber.
“It’s about 13 grandkids who view the Christmas season for giving gifts,” Gerry says “It’s about learning to do by doing. For my 13 grandkids, they hope to inspire others to offer generosity. The older grandkids feel more blessed from this act than the gift recipient. They are all ecstatic over being a part of truly making a difference in two people’s lives.”