Giving back is in Henrique Monteiro’s nature.
As Parkland Regional Operational Manager based in Ontario, Henrique witnessed the impact COVID-19 was having on the people in his region and decided to act.
“I wanted to give back to the communities because I could see and hear about people struggling,” Monteiro said. “So, I put out the call to my colleagues and was happy that several stepped up.”
Monteiro, who has been with Parkland since late 2019, got to work, enlisting the help of two of his territory managers, Elias Zakaria and Eric Bondy. Zakaria organized a morning of volunteering at the London Food Bank, and the three spent their time sorting, packing and organizing donations.
“It was such a fantastic opportunity, and we really felt like we were able to make a difference,” he said. “In my role at Parkland, it’s not just about doing a good job, but it’s also about serving our customers and our communities. This was something that we felt we could do in our own small way.”
Community is one of Parkland’s core values, underscoring the tenet that we are all connected, with the goal of supporting the communities the company operates in. It was this guiding principle that drove Parkland’s efforts during COVID.
Demonstrating its commitment to powering journeys and energizing its communities, over the course of last year, Parkland donated more than $4.5 million to a variety of community initiatives across its geographies. This included fuel donations to front-line health workers and first responders; free showers and discounted food for Canada’s truck driving community; and donations to food banks.
As fate would have it, the day that Monteiro and his colleagues were volunteering, a donation cheque from Parkland as part of its support of Canadian food banks, arrived at the London Food Bank.
“It was such a coincidence that we were there on that same day,” Monteiro said. “Zakaria, Bondy and I were so proud to do our part and then to have Parkland follow up, I don’t have words to express it.”
And the good work doesn’t stop there for the generous regional manager. Monteiro has plans to continue helping the food bank, either by donating his own time or helping to organize more volunteer drives in 2021.
“You feel so good by being able to help others out and I am fortunate to be able to do so. I challenge others to do the same,” he said.
Challenge accepted Henrique.
Parkland employees (left to right), Eric Bondy, Elias Zakaria and Henrique Monteiro sort and organize donations at the London Food Bank
