Erol’s Automotive keeps support local with Humane Society, Food Bank partnerships

Erol Yersel, the owner of Erol’s Automotive, a shop on River Avenue, has a distinct philosophy when it comes to philanthropic endeavours.

For as long as Erol’s has been open–which spans nearly three decades–its owner believes the shop has a responsibility to support locally driven community initiatives.

“I’d always rather support something inside the town than outside it, and keep the money local,” Yersel said. Erol’s is one of the sponsors of this year’s Cochrane and Area Humane Society Hair of the Dog fundraiser on March 21.

The Hair of the Dog initiative, which Erol’s and many other local businesses have been backing for years, will be held at The Venue and all the proceeds from the events raffles and silent and live auctions will go towards supporting the Humane Society.

Erol’s is one of the many businesses that has backed the Hair of the Dog the last couple of years, and Kendra Watt, a local realtor, has been the lead organizer for the fundraiser. This year’s Hair of the Dog is the 12th annual edition of the fundraiser, which features live music and other “exciting entertainment.”

Another organization that Erol’s is helping out is the Cochrane Food Bank. Erol’s has a service deal where when customers bring in a food or clothing donation to a bin in the shop, they get a 10 per cent discount off their bill up to $500.

Yersel said the Food Bank had no idea Erol’s decided to do the discount-for-donation initiative that will end up benefiting the Food Bank. “We’re just doing it because it’s the right thing to do,” Yersel said.

Erol’s food bank collection and discounted services deal runs until February 14, but Yersel said it’s always been the goal of his business, which has operated in Cochrane for 28 years, to help out groups and non-profit organizations in the community that rely on support from other for-profit businesses.

“These organizations like the Humane Society, the Food Bank, and the Helping Hands Society work on donations and grants, they don’t have a source of income,” Yersel said. “People don’t realize the work they do. Times are tough and they do a lot of behind-the-scenes work that nobody realizes.”

For Yersel, it’s the responsibility of his business and others like it to support groups in the community that have a mission to help others. “They need help and we have the ability to help them,” he said. “So why not help?”