Country Truckin’ hauls in cash for charity

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This article was published 05/08/2024 (277 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It was so good they might have to do it again.

That was the sentiment from PBX Truck Service owner Cornie Petkau after Country Truckin’ in Blumenort helped raise $15,000 for three local charities, July 26.

There was also a ribbon cutting ceremony for Grandpa’s Cafe on 311 and thank you dinner with clients and friends before the concert headlined by Doc Walker. Petkau is excited for the potential of fundraising and fun at the new Mexican restaurant named he and his brother and PBX co-owner Ron in honour of their 94-year-old dad John, who still finds something to work on everyday and walks over for coffee.

“My intentions are in the future to have lots of barbecues here, have lots of fundraisers, lots of parties. We’ve got to pay for it somehow,” joked Petkau.

“We’ll do bike shows and we’ll do other shows.”

Petkau said it was hectic putting together such a big event in a small town, but well worth it especially after $5,000 cheques each were presented to Youth for Christ Blumenort, ROC (Recreation Opportunities for Children) Eastman, and Headway.

There were 85 staff and 25 other volunteers who helped Petkau put on the events. His experience fundraising with Rotary Club of South Eastman helped. Petkau is serving as the Rotary’s president this year.

Donating to charities dedicated to youth was a way to affect the future of his community by helping those who know best how to help young people find their right paths.

“I’ve tried to get employees nowadays that are not on drugs, and that’s almost impossible. I’m very lucky that my kids didn’t go on drugs and … I’d gladly help somebody get their kids straightened out,” said Petkau.

He went on to espouse the virtues of the people running the charities now and those who came before. And each took their turn on the big stage to receive their giant cheques and explain what they do.

The story of a boy who went from menace to a happy and focused child with the help of ROC Eastman was told by executive director Moni Loewen.

“This particular little 10-year-old boy wanted to play hockey for a really long time,” started Loewen, adding they help kids access everything from guitar lessons to nature activities.

The boy lived in a very small community.

“Gas stations, a few houses, lots of farmland. Before ROC became involved with the family, the little boy had cost the local gas station about $10,000 worth of repairs, security, putting up fences, fixing things that were vandalized by him.

“He needed something positive to do,” said Loewen.

She went to that gas station to fuel up after the boy joined the hockey team.

“The gas station owner said, ‘oh, you’re the angel.’ I said no but tell me more.

“She said, ‘we’ve been trying to get rid of this family for years.’ And I was like, aw… She said they would actually pray that the family would leave. And then one day one of the ladies said you know what, I want to actually pray that things get better for the family.”

A few months later, everyone noticed the change in the boy.

“She said everybody in the community saw the change in the little boy. And as I was leaving, she said ‘I just want you to know you’re not just helping a kid, you’re helping a community,’” described Loewen.

Headway began in 2016. It is a collaboration by agencies that work with high-risk youth and their families in the Steinbach area, including Blumenort. It helps youth who become involved with police, CFS, probation services, and often have trouble at school.

Blumenort Youth for Christ (YFC) just opened its doors late last year. It is a safe place for young people ages 12 to 19 under the care and supervision of trained staff and volunteers. Kids can be kids without negative influences. They can play video games, pool, ping-pong, basketball and more.

Ministry director Vince Kehler said it is already a hit with youth. He too shared a story of one youth that helped distill what they do.

“We have one young fella that comes to our drop-in, like me comes from a broken home. During Christmas I was feeding him mashed potatoes and meatballs, and he looked across the table at me. He said, ‘Vince, you’re like a dad to me.’

“And at that moment, I think I knew I was doing what I need to be doing. Being a kid that grew up with a dad that was a trucker, but then also was from a broken home, I didn’t see my dad enough. And to be able to do that for guys in this community or girls in this community is an absolute privilege,” said Kehler, who invited everyone to visit for a cup of coffee and see what they do at 67 Friesen Drive.

The gathering before the concert in front of Grandpa’s Cafe was also a chance to celebrate 36 years in the business for Petkau, and the opening of the new PBX shop in 2021. The celebration was a little delayed by COVID, but gave time to gather enough people to start their own town.

The daytime celebration culminated in Petkau naming over 30 people who helped him and his brother through the years. And he did not just name them, he gave a short description of why they were getting in the group photo that will be hung up in PBX boardroom.

Being in business that long means Petkau has seen and become close with generations of people who help make the Southeast run since his start in Landmark.

“We’ve been dealing with lots of third generation already. It’s more than just customers, it’s friends and sort of almost like family,” said Petkau, who wanted to give a special shout out to Blumenort’s Hanover councillor Roberto Hiebert for making sure the big show happened.

Petkau’s family was there to celebrate the opening of Grandpa’s Cafe, including his brother Abe who came up from Mexico, and Grandpa John himself.

“I just thought for history, for Blumenort’s sake, dad living here for… 30-35 years,” started Petkau, who oscillated between trying to be humble and show his pride for grandpa Petkau.

“You look a little at the bigger picture, you know, into the future. We can’t really see into the future but we can dream into the future. And that was sort of the dream, for his honour, to open up a restaurant.

“And the people of Blumenort will remember as long as the restaurant’s here, they’re going to remember him. Who he was – who he is now but (also) once he’s done.”