Bank CEO gives $50K to Salvation Army, whose help he’s never forgotten

London-based VersaBank is giving $50,000 to the Salvation Army, which have become the primary recipient of its donations.

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The donation will support Harvest Hope, a Canada-wide food security campaign that includes programs in London.

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“Most of our budget should go where it could do the most good and help people out,” said VersaBank chief executive David Taylor. “That’s why we went with the Salvation Army.”

The donation by VersaBank (formerly Pacific and Western Bank) was made in October so the Salvation Army could meet a deadline set by an anonymous donor to match donations.

Taylor’s connection to the Salvation Army goes back to 1976 when he was a security guard at the Thunder Bay correctional complex. He believes the Salvation Army freed him and other security guards who had been taken hostage by inmates.

“Thankfully, I managed to escape,” Taylor said. “But they (the Salvation Army) had to go back in and rescue those people, so I’ve always had a warm spot for those nice people who literally risked their lives.”

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In a statement, Salvation Army spokesperson Glenn van Gulik said the organization is grateful for the gift and their partnership with the bank in supporting communities struggling with food insecurity.

“With the increase in the number of households needing help to access healthy and nutritious food for their families, VersaBank is making an immediate impact on the lives of Canadians in their community and across Canada,” Gulik said.

According to Taylor, “it would certainly be helpful” if more corporations contributed to causes that combat homelessness.

“I encouraged other corporations in London to do the same thing and our city councilors to get a hard look at what to do about the (homelessness) situation,” he said. “I think it’s the city that has to make this a top priority and other corporations, too.”

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