In Waterford, everybody loves Robbie Logan.
The 55-year-old man has been such a fixture in the community — hanging out at the arena, adopted by the firefighters and acting as Grand Marshall for the Pumpkinfest parade — that when it was learned he was in need, the help was there in an instant.
“He’s just someone that everyone loves,” says Mike Jarvis, president of the Waterford Lions Club.
It hardly needed to be said.
When the Lions, the Waterford Firefighters and the Lioness Club vowed to raise funds for a stair-lift to help Robbie in his two-storey home, the outpouring of help at a bottle drive from the community on Saturday was astounding.
A line-up of vehicles delivering thousands of bottles and cans began 30 minutes before the volunteers were supposed to be receiving boxes.
And a donation jar set out for cash gifts soon had more than enough to cover the $3,800 cost of the lift, which was installed last week.
Trucks and cars dropped off giant bags of cans and box after box of bottles that were quickly sorted and packed in trailers to be redeemed.
“The response has been incredible. It’s been crazy all day and this is probably the best ever event we’ve held,” Jarvis said
With the lift funds easily raised, the group plans to put the extra aside for a wheelchair that Robbie will one day need.
Born with Dandy-Walker Syndrome, a congenital problem where part of the brain doesn’t develop normally, Robbie nevertheless put himself out in the community in a huge way.
“He just about lived at the fire hall as soon as he was big enough to climb in the truck,” says his mother, Kathy Logan.
“He used to go to the post office to check for mail three times a day so we called him the Meet and Greet Guy. He hung out at the arena and knew more about what was going on in Waterford than I did.
“He knows people I’ve never even met.”
Once a constant around the town, Robbie hasn’t been able to walk downtown for the last few years. He began falling and now uses a walker around his home.
Kathy says it had become dangerous for her to help him up the narrow stairs in their home.
But, the same community that has watched over Robbie on the streets of Waterford for decades continues to care for him, ensuring he has what’s needed.
“They’ve looked after him from Day 1,” says Kathy.
Rising in the chair of his new stair-lift, Robbie said ‘”thank you” to all those who contributed to his stair helper.
When asked why everyone loves him so very much, Robbie had a simple answer.
“I’m the Mayor of Waterford.”
@EXPSGamble