When businesses close their doors, people rush to get the best deals.
Here is a deal being offered by a North Bay businessman that can't be beat.
As he prepares to close his business after nearly 25 years, Don Chatelaine, owner of Chatelaine Bargains Thrift and Consignment Store, has been accepting donations to the food bank in exchange for a free bag of items from his McIntyre Street store.
"I'm asking people to bring a canned good and they can fill up a bag for free. One can get one bag if they donate two cans they get two bags, whatever they donated. If they didn't bring a food item, and they're interested in something, instead of me selling it to them, I'll say just give me two bucks and I put it in the jar and you can fill up your bag for free," said Chatelaine.
"I just bought a bunch of food with the money I received, and I added it to the food already going to the food bank. I have already dropped off close to 900 pounds of food."
Chatelaine says he's doing this because he's always liked helping people.
"I looked at it like, if I dropped it off somewhere else, people would have to pay for it, so why not just give it away. This way they get to bring in canned goods and it goes back to the community, and they get stuff for free."
A recent inspection by the Fire Department meant making major upgrades to the sprinkler system in his building. Unable to afford the work, Chatelaine was forced to close his business. It also meant his family and a tenant had to move out of the building.
"The sprinkler system was no longer up to code. Just to change the heads would have cost me about $26,000 and then all the other work and expenses that went along with it, I just couldn't afford to get the work done. So it was time for me to quit."
Family friend, Barbara Matthews, says it speaks volumes about the character of the man and his family.
It restores her faith in humanity that someone going through such a tough time can still reach out to help others.
"It actually chokes me up. I think it's amazing what they're doing. I keep telling them they have no idea what kind of impact they're making in the community. I respect them 150 per cent," said Matthews.
"I'm kind of blown away. Don had people from the seniors building come over and he had stools set up and they would sit and talk to him for hours. He's going to miss that. He's more concerned about the people that come to visit him, not having him there any more than he his about himself sometimes."
Chatelaine says he will continue to offer the exchange until early next week. Larger items are going for half-price.
"It's not just bags, now I'm telling people to fill up boxes."
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