Community Tadbitz: Meet Byron
“Help others and give something back. I guarantee you will discover that while public service improves the lives and the world around you, its greatest reward is the enrichment and new meaning it will bring your own life.” Words to live by and famously said by action superstar Arnold Schwarzenegger. Byron Baker fully embodies this philosophy on life and began volunteering for the Community Lunch Box Program back in January 2015.
“It’s for a really good cause and you get to meet really nice people,” says Byron, also known as the Bottle Sorter Extraordinaire. Every Tuesday he and other volunteers get together at the CLB bottle sorting building located beside Whitecourt Paws Grooming. There they spend approximately three hours sorting bottles, cans and cartons of various sizes. Byron has earned Bottle Sorter nickname as he sorts nine bags on average. There are 160 bottles or 40 cartons in each bag. That is an incredible amount in such a short amount of time!
If there is one thing that I personally have learned in the past month doing these weekly columns, it’s that the people that make up the Community Lunch Box Program share the same important message. Byron Baker is no exception. He believes that more people should support the program because that will enable the CLB to do more and provide more in their commitment to ensuring that no student will learn on a empty stomach.
Byron describes himself as a hard working and very personable individual. He can often be found working at Dairy Queen where he has worked for the past ten years as a janitor and general maintenance worker. When he isn’t busy working he enjoys shopping and watching television. His favourite shows are “The Big Bang Theory,” “Smallville” and “Two and a Half Men.” Byron is also an active athlete who is involved in Special Olympics and was a Bocce ball silver regional finalist in August 2015. Way to go, Byron!
Byron Baker is another shining example of being all that you can be in this community. He will continue to volunteer for the Community Lunch Box Program with steadfast dedication. He wishes everyone to have a wonderful and safe Christmas and New Year as we welcome 2016.
