Nearly two decades ago, Callingwood Safeway Store Manager, Chris Wilkes, was asked by an employee if he would be willing to volunteer at a local high school to read stories to students with disabilities. He eagerly accepted the opportunity, unknowing that it would lead to an 18-year partnership with the school that still continues today.

Every year on Customer Appreciation Day, up to 30 students from L.Y. Cairns School, along with a teacher and two school aides, visit Chris’ Safeway store in Edmonton. For a few hours, the students support with jobs such as bagging groceries, facing shelves, returning shopping baskets, and other tasks around the store.

While at the store, Safeway teammates and the students’ teachers provide positive encouragement and direction. The various in-store tasks, along with the interaction with fellow employees and customers, have helped nurture the students’ self-confidence and social communication skills. 

“I’ve seen kids go from facing the shelves and needing supervision, to bagging groceries and wishing customers a nice day within months. They are so proud of what they do and always leave with a smile on their faces,” said Erin, one of the students’ teachers. “The bonds they’ve developed with employees has changed their lives,” she added. “I have one student who, two years after leaving my program, still asks me regularly about his favorite produce manager, Frank. Other students have chosen horticulture as their vocational class because of Marlene in the floral department. And we have other students who choose to apply for career opportunities at Safeway because of how the program has made them feel.”

When the partnership began, the school found it difficult to arrange transportation for the students. Chris rallied his store team and organized a fundraiser through the Because We Care community program. Employees rode on more than 20 stationary bikes in a mall for 24 hours to raise enough money to help buy a bus to transport the students. Donations were higher than expected, and the same bus is running today!

Customers approach Chris to express how much they appreciate the store supporting the students.  The store and employees have received the City of Edmonton Mayors Award twice for working with persons with disabilities, most recently in 2014. Chris says his team has learned a lot from the students, and “far more than they will ever learn from us; it’s been extremely gratifying.”​ Congratulations to the entire Callingwood Safeway team for your unwavering commitment to serving your community – way to go!