Emerald, P.E.I. teen uses birthday money to buy chainsaw to help neighbours clean up after Fiona
SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — Even earlier than Samuel Stretch turned 17, he knew how he wished to spend his birthday cash – shopping for one thing that may assist his fellow Islanders clear up their yards following post-tropical storm Fiona.
“I used to be driving round city yesterday (Sept. 26) and noticed how a lot harm was carried out and the way a lot assist folks wanted,” mentioned Samuel.
The Emerald teen celebrated his birthday on Tuesday, Sept. 27. Put up-tropical storm Fiona swept via P.E.I. on Sept. 24 and induced important harm to the province, a lot of which was attributable to falling bushes.
Quite than spending his birthday cash on a present for himself, Samuel used it to purchase a chainsaw to assist folks cope with their property’s fallen bushes.
“I used to be driving round and located this,” mentioned Samuel, holding up his chainsaw. “It was proper inside my finances, so I simply determined, hey, it’s a superb use of cash, I gained’t miss it, and it’ll be put to good use.”
Samuel is not any stranger to the ability instrument.
His father had taught him the right use of the machine and the pair have been out reducing collectively earlier than, both felling bushes for the household’s wooden range or serving to neighbours with bushes that had fallen in winter storms.
When SaltWire met with Samuel, he – and 4 different teenagers in his church’s youth group – have been laborious at work reducing bushes at The Heat Home Retreat B&B on Summerside’s Central Road.
Cate Garant, the B&B’s proprietor/operator, mentioned that whereas the home survived, the yard misplaced a minimum of 13 bushes – on prime of one other 13 misplaced from post-tropical storm Dorian in 2019.
“It’s great,” mentioned Garant. “My husband and I are 68, we couldn’t have carried out this by ourselves.”
Nalan Stretch, Samuel’s mom, couldn’t be prouder to see her son take the initiative.
“It’s the best way he’s constructed,” she mentioned. “He desires to assist anyone he can.”
A couple of locations Samuel has assisted have tried giving him issues to thank him, however he refuses it. For him, doing his half to offer again to the group is fee sufficient.
“I prefer it when folks assist me, so it simply makes me need to give again,” mentioned Samuel. “Everyone can use assist generally.”
When the following main storm blows via P.E.I., there isn’t any doubt in Samuel’s thoughts that he’ll be again out once more lending a hand to his neighbours.
“It feels superb. It’s a number of enjoyable,” he mentioned. “Particularly, I imply, utilizing a chainsaw, you might by no means beat that.” He laughs. “However no, it’s a number of enjoyable. I simply love to offer again to folks, and I’ll do this as a lot as I can. Till the day I die.”
