“The hero is one who kindles a great light in the world, who sets up blazing torches in the dark streets of life for men to see by. The saint is the man who walks through the dark paths of the world, himself a light.”

When Felix Adler wrote these words, he surely must have just met a man like Merv Linklater, shown in the photo sorting through some of the donations he will be giving to needy families.

Known to many as ‘Merv The Nurse’, Mervin Linklater retired 4 years ago from a 28 year career as a registered nurse working  in Sudbury hospitals. One day Merv was sitting on a bench in Memorial Park when he noticed that there seemed to be a lot of downtrodden men and women who were carrying their life’s possessions in bags slung over their shoulders. This disturbed Merv, and being a very religious man, he went home to pray for guidance. He asked The Lord, “What can I do for these people?”

“I cannot explain the feeling that came over me that night,” recalled Merv. “It was as if God was speaking to me in some strange way. He was answering my question.”

Shortly afterwards he was downtown when he happened upon a woman who was walking down the street in her bare feet. He asked the lady where her shoes were and was told that she had two children who needed clothing and shoes for school. After paying for rent and food, there was nothing left over and she didn’t know of any place where she could get any shoes donated free of charge. Merv took her into a store and bought her a pair of running shoes.  From that moment on he knew why he was overcome by that powerful feeling when he prayed for guidance from God, and he knew what he had to do for the rest of his life.

For the past seven years, Merv, who 3 years ago  moved from his tiny apartment in Sudbury to a little house in Hanmer, has been collecting donations of all kinds from generous people and redirecting them to those of us who are less fortunate. You name it - he’s found it! From stoves, beds, fridges, clothing of all sizes, to toys and utensils. If someone has something to donate, he knows someone else on his list of 375 needy individuals who can use it.

Merv lives a modest lifestyle in his tiny bungalow. The walls are filled with certificates and mementos given by appreciative individuals and organizations  he has helped out.  One he is particularly fond of shows a group of happy children surrounding him during the Christmas party he helped organize for needy children this winter at the Lion’s Den in Hanmer. Boxes of clothing, dishes, and small items can be seen on the floor space in his home. In the ten minutes I spent with him, the phone rang four times as people called to make arrangement to have something picked up or delivered.

All of the donations people give to Merv are quickly given, absolutely free of charge to others. Many are referred to Merv from other charitable organizations.

“It drives me to tears at times,” he explained. “I have heard so many sad stories about people who have had to suffer. One family had to start over with nothing when they moved here because they couldn’t afford the month to pay to get their furniture out of storage. By the time they had the money, the storage company had sold all of their belongings to pay for the storage bill. I could write a book with all of the stories I have heard.”

Merv, who himself is suffering tremendously from arthritis in his legs, has two or three volunteers who come over to help him sort out clothing by size. He also has a gentleman who offers his time every Saturday to make pickups and deliveries in his truck. But mostly, it is Merv at the end of the phone line, either taking requests from people who are in need, or trying to find some more donations from those of us who are more fortunate.

I don’t often make specific requests to my readers. But this time, I am making an appeal, not for my sake, nor for Merv’s sake, but for the 375 people on Merv’s list who are in need. Please check your basement or garage. See if you can find any piece of furniture or appliance, a set of dishes, an article of clothing or any other household article that is in acceptable, working condition. See if you can find it in your heart to call Merv and tell him what you have to give. What you think is surplus or of no use anymore, may be considered a treasure to a person in need. One day Merv delivered a kitchen table and three old chairs to a woman who couldn’t thank him enough. Apparently she and her children had previously been forced to use boxes to sit on and eat from. Merv sat and cried after she left.

There are so many people to help, and only so much that one man can do. But Merv will continue to serve his Lord in this way, and will continue to do whatever he can to be a light to those who have come to rely upon him for assistance.

Please help Merv. If you have anything you can spare, call 969-0802 and help Merv light up the life of someone in need. Few of us will ever be recognized as heros in this world, but we all have a chance to be saints.