In the spirit of giving, Athens Greek Souvlaki & Gyro matching donations from customers to the Salvation Army

Last year, Athens Greek Souvlaki & Gyro donated $4,000 to the Salvation Army. This year, the restaurant hopes Stratford will be just as generous. Pictured from left are Maria, Athen Greek owner Terry Voulkaridis, Salavation Army Stratford and St. Marys executive director Rick Honcharsky and Pamelia.

It’s that time of year when the kettle pots come out at local businesses.

The Salvation Army's Christmas Kettle Campaign is one of Canada's largest and most recognizable annual charitable events. Each year, Terry Voulkaridis, owner of Athens Greek Souvlaki & Gyro in Stratford, has donated to the Salvation Army to give back what they gave to him.

“I’ve been supporting the Salvation Army since 1972. Every year that I can and I’m in business, I am supporting them because I believe big time in the Salvation Army.

“In 1969, when I arrived in Toronto, I had $20 in my pocket. I had plastic shoes from Greece and a jacket that my mother had knitted from sheep. It was so cold, it was 20 or 30 below and the snow was so big, I was freezing.”

Staying first in a hostel, then travelling the streetcar tracks to St. John’s Church where they were full, it was suggested to Voulkaridis that he go to St. Andrew’s Church. Once there, Voulkaridis was sheltered and fed, and The Salvation Army came and gave him a coat, long johns, gloves, boots, hat, a scarf and eight dollars a week. With the support of the Salvation Army, Voulkaridis was able to find work and eventually go to school at George Brown College, where he took business management. With the success of his businesses, he has worked hard to pay that generosity and kindness back to the Salvation Army.

Last year, Voulkaridis reached out to the Salvation Army Stratford to have a Christmas Kettle placed in his restaurant. Taking it one step further than the average business, Voulkaridis pledged to match all of the donations in the Athen’s Greek Souvlaki & Gyro’s Christmas Kettle.

“I’m so thankful that he picked us and walked in last year,” said Maj. Rick Honcharsky, executive director of the Salvation Army Stratford and St. Marys.

After the campaign was over, Honcharsky called Voulkaridis to tell him the good news. The Christmas Kettle at Athens Greek had raised $2,000.

“I was overwhelmed,” said Voulkaridis. “I was shocked. I was happy and very proud. It was overwhelming the generosity of Stratford people, my customers, the best.”

“Last year, with our Christmas campaign, we raised $375,000,” said Honcharsky. “That’s basically our operating budget for the year in just six weeks.”

Voulkaridis believes in the power of small acts of kindness. One act of kindness that Voulkaridis himself did was back in 1992 when a group of boys couldn’t pay for their meal at his previous restaurant, Country Boy. Voulkaridis was forgiving and even provided $10 for the boys to get home safe.

“Years went by,” said Voulkaridis. “Last Christmas, a gentleman came in … and I said, ‘What can I do for you?’ He ordered a gyro and fries and sat down. … He asked me to come over. He said, ‘My name is Daniel. You don’t remember me, but one day I was at Country Boy and you came over and I had no money. Not only you told me not to worry about it, you gave me 10 bucks.’ He says, ‘Right now, I am the vice president of Honda in Alliston.’ He says, ‘Any time you buy a Honda, you talk to me, here’s my card,’ and he turned around and put $500 in the (Christmas Kettle).

“It shows you when you do something good, you never know who is going to be there for you.”

This year, Voulkaridis has made the same pledge. For every dollar put the in the Christmas Kettle at Athens Greek Souvlaki & Gyro, Voulkaridis will match it.

“I hope for the best,” said Voulkaridis. “I don’t want to put a number, I just hope for the best. I’m looking forward that people are going to be generous because it’s a great organization. I just want to put a smile on the kids’ and families’ (faces).”

When asked what is special about Stratford compared to the other towns Voulkaridis has operated restaurants in, he said, “I don’t want to brag about Stratford, but definitely the people are very loyal and humble and if they like you, they will support you 100 per cent.

“This has been a phenomenal operation. We’re ecstatic and very, very happy with the sales we do and the response of Stratford. Stratford is good people, energetic people and, above all, if they like you, they will support you. We believe in this because we give them a great value. If you’re not happy, we will cheerfully refund your money. So, we’re confident. If you want to succeed in this business, you got to give the people good food, good service and a good price.”

The Christmas Kettle Campaign runs from Nov. 14 to Dec. 24. Be sure to swing by Athens Greek Souvlaki & Gyro located at 804 Ontario St. for a tasty gyro and to have any donations to the campaign matched.