A Campbell River man who was once homeless, has turned his ‘pay it forward’ deeds into a small business.
Rory Clark first told his story to the Mirror last year. Last month, the Mirror caught up with Clark to see how he has been coping.
The former logger suffered a back injury while on the job about seven years ago. He wound up addicted to painkillers and found himself homeless and hungry.
The Salvation Army soup kitchen looked after Clark until he was able to get back on his feet.
Last year, Clark decided to plant flowers and spruce up the surrounding Cedar Street area as a way of returning the community’s generosity.
After the update story on Clark’s landscaping ran in the Mirror April 27, he has been inundated with calls from people who read the story and want to hire him.
“I’ve gotten a lot of feedback, everybody is really impressed,” Clark said. “I’m a celebrity now. I get calls from people I don’t even know.”
The yard work is therapeutic for Clark and keeps him off drugs. It also gives him a sense of pride to make people happy.
“Every day I try to do something nice to somebody, as long as I can get a smile on someone’s face,” Clark said.
The work is so plentiful that Clark has now started his own business, Rory’s Uptown Garden Services. Clark will prune shrubs, plant flowers, cut the lawn, weed, make rock gardens, as well as wash cars, houses and motor homes.
He charges $15 per hour for his work.
“There’s lots of demand,” said Clark, who has not deserted his roots.
Although he’s getting outside work now, Clark still tries to get down to Cedar Street every day, where he’s made a name for himself.
“Everybody walks by and says it looks really good and clean around here now,” Clark said.
“But the work never ends.”
To book an appointment with Clark call (250) 202-7115 or (250) 287-8464.