The Editor,
Shawn McCormack and his wife moved into a house in a cul-de-sac behind my house approximately 20 years ago. He immediately re-roofed his house single-handedly, built a larger sundeck, garage, storage facility and a new car park.
Subsequently, he power-washed and painted the exterior of his house, did some minor landscaping to the front yard and planted shrubs and plants.
I observed him with his boundless energy, never being idle, but working continuously from dawn ’til bedtime.
Shawn is a jack of all trades, has an outgoing personality and a cheery smile for everyone. He quickly got to know all the neighbours in the neighbourhood, who eventually became like an extended family to him.
Everyone loves him because of his caring and charitable deeds of kindness extended to neighbours, and he never turns anyone away.
Let me give you an example: My lawnmower was stolen from my backyard some years ago. I inquired if any of the neighbours had seen any suspicious character removing it. Shawn volunteered to build me a large shed to store a replacement lawnmower and other garden tools.
But it didn’t stop there.
He provided all the materials for the shed, completed the project within a weekend, installed a lock and gave me the key. He neither expected nor accepted any compensation for the materials required, nor for his time, energy and labour. All this was done gratis.
Shawn leaves for work by 6 a.m. and returns home early afternoon. He spends the rest of his day observing what needs to be done in the neighbourhood. He volunteers to help repair cars for the neighbours, trim trees that have overgrown, clean gutters, remove debris after a windstorm, help single women and the elderly with heavy chores, and removes old appliances and other junk that need to be taken to the landfill. In the wintertime, he shovels the snow for those who are unable to do the job. He lends his ladders and other tools to the neighbours if they ask.
Recently, my plum trees had overgrown and needed to be trimmed. Shawn saw the need and volunteered to trim them. He even cut up the wood into pieces so that the postal worker who delivers our mail could take them home for his fireplace.
Shawn chopped the leaves and branches, and solicited all the neighbours who had space in their green waste bins to fill them. They all complied in reciprocity because of their love for him and his many charitable deeds.
Truly, this Good Samaritan deserves recognition, praise and commendation for all his kindness and charitable acts done for years out of the goodness of his heart.
Margaret Matthews,
Port Coquitlam
