When Ken Lo, chief operating officer at StellerVista Credit Union, found himself at the company’s Castlegar, B.C., branch, he encountered long-time client Kerry Zimmerman.

But their meetings and conversations quickly encompassed more than personal finance.

“We got to talking, and Kerry told me about his hobby of making model vehicles out of wood,” recalls Ken. “He showed me some pictures—they were really well done—and I thought it would be great if he could build one of my Ford Lightning.”

A few months later, after Ken had returned to his home office, he got a call from the Castlegar branch manager.

“Kerry has finished your model truck.”

Ken returned to Castlegar to collect the model.

“I asked Kerry how much I owed him,” Ken recalls. “He told me that he didn’t want any money, but if I did pay him, he would donate it to The Salvation Army.”

Such a declaration sparked further conversation, and soon Kerry was telling Ken about his life and why he donated. Touched by his story, Ken returned to the StellerVista office and, after talking it over with his colleagues, the company donated $600 to the local Salvation Army in Trail, B.C., on Kerry’s behalf.

MAKING MEMORIES

When Kerry remarried in 2017, he gained access to a wood shop on his wife’s property.

Despite a blue-collar background, including 40 years in the smelting industry, the shop provided him with an opportunity to practise different skills—most notably small-scale woodworking.

While tinkering, Kerry began hearing stories of people who had had to give up vehicles that meant something to them.

“I wanted to challenge myself to find a way to help others. That’s when I had the model idea,” he explains.

Since then, Kerry has constructed, painted and distributed hundreds of detailed wooden miniatures. Whether a car has caught his eye, a creation has been requested, or he has felt a need to replace a vehicle someone no longer has, Kerry has dedicated his time and resources to his craftsmanship.

A particular stand-out creation was a red Impala.

“My wife heard a story of a man who was living in his car. I asked if she knew what make and colour the car was. I made the Impala and was able to find and give it to the man. Nothing can replace the feeling I got.”

Kerry’s models have even made an impact on people as far away as Edmonton.

“I was in a repair shop, and a friend was talking about how he’d heard about this young woman who was going through hard times. She’d talked about this old ’78 Ford her grandpa had,” he remembers. “I made one and was able to get it to her.”

“The Salvation Army is a wonderful organizationwith a lot of dedicated people.” KERRY ZIMMERMAN

CATALYST FOR GOOD

From a young age, Kerry has tried to help people, and his retirement hobby is all about benefiting others.

“I enjoy creating the models, but I’m not doing it to benefit myself. I just love people,” he says. “People helping people is the number one solution to all the things going on in the world.”

It should come as no surprise that, as his views align with the work and mission of The Salvation Army, Kerry feels strongly about donating any money he generates from his work to the church.

The experience with StellerVista’s donation on Kerry’s behalf only helped reinforce his commitment.

After contacting The Salvation Army’s West Kootenay Circuit—Trail, B.C., location for a photo to commemorate the $600 donation, he met Captain Joel Torrens, the pastor.

“We talked, and he told me more about the programs the church does in the area,” Kerry says. “You can’t find a better cause. It’s a wonderful organization with a lot of dedicated people.”

To Captain Joel, Kerry is one of those dedicated people. “He looks for opportunities to make a difference and do something special for others in his life.”

It is through people such as him that The Salvation Army can continue its work and reputation.

“We can’t do anything without community support,” Captain Joel explains. “Whenever someone new comes alongside us, it’s a vote of confidence that they’ve heard about our mission, what we do, our impact, and they want to contribute and help see the Army grow.”

As an example, it was Kerry’s interactions with Ken that was the catalyst for StellerVista’s $600 donation, which will go toward supporting the Army’s food programs.

MORE THAN A CHARITY

At 72, Kerry has no plans to stop his wooden model crafting. One of his latest creations is a ferry that used to travel across the Columbia River from Robson, B.C., to Castlegar, a project he was commissioned to make and that will be displayed in the local museum.

As far as Kerry’s philanthropy is concerned, The Salvation Army has a staunch supporter in him.

“I want to be around for another 20 years so I can keep donating to The Salvation Army,” Kerry says.

To him, it’s not charity. It’s a way to thank the organization for what it does.

Photos: Courtesy of Kerry Zimmerman

Nathan Reid-Welford enjoys writing about people’s initiatives, journeys and passions. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in English writing from Redeemer University, where he also studied business and history. Nathan enjoys creative, fictional and promotional writing, and playing the drums and guitar.

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