Shawville Giant Tiger held a celebration to mark the company’s 65th birthday on Saturday.
Store owner Brandyn Gauthier said that they had been given $1,000 by Giant Tiger’s head office to give away to a charity of their choice, and chose the Blessed Cupboard food bank for the work that they do in the community. They also gave the proceeds of a round-up campaign totalling $4,250 to Dr. S.E. McDowell Elementary’s Home and School breakfast program.
“McDowell Home and School approached us before Easter, and they needed help with their breakfast program,” he explained. “This year there was a little bit of a shortfall with their breakfast program, so we decided to do a round up campaign at the cash and raise money for that. The cashiers set themselves a $4,000 goal and we exceeded that by $250.”
He added that the charity barbecue that they held on Saturday was in support of the Shawville District Minor Hockey, and brought in $1,400. Gauthier said the store also managed to sell 80 “birthday cake in a bag” units over the weekend that will be donated to local food bank Bouffe Pontiac.
“Its basically everything needed to make a birthday cake. We donate that to Bouffe Pontiac and they’ll hand it out to families that might need a little help to celebrate their kids’ birthdays,” he explained.
The first 65 customers through the store’s doors over the weekend also received gift cards.
Gauthier said that while Giant Tiger is turning 65 this year, the Shawville store turns 30 next year, and there are sure to be celebrations for that milestone.
