OTA carriers applauded for charity work

TORONTO, (May 7, 2004) — The Ontario Trucking Association is praising three of its member carriers for being at the forefront in helping children and families still affected by the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant disaster 18 years ago.

Kriska Transportation of Prescott, Ont., Harland Veinotte Transport of Morrisburg, Ont., and most recently, Markham, Ont.-based Highland Transport are part of the Canadian Aid for Chernobyl (CAC). As carriers, they’ve volunteered transport services and warehousing for food, medicine, and other supplies that ends up getting shipped to those in the affected areas of Chausy, Belarus.

Recently, Kriska sponsored a three-week trip to Chausy for one of their employees, Tracy Cirtwell, who travelled to the city to help distribute supplies from incoming containers.

“My uncle went over to Chausy four years ago with the CAC and it was at that point that I started considering to volunteer also. It wasn’t until this year that I was finally able to make the commitment and it is something I certainly do not regret,” she wrote of her experience. “It is overwhelming how thankful and happy these people are that you have come to help them. Leaving them behind is another issue. You realize that you have so much to go back to and they are left with what you have given them. We as Canadians take a lot for granted and it’s surprising just how little you need to live on.”