Thank you Mr. Spinks
Anne B Schroll | Published on 10/25/2021
Left: Jordan Litvak, Edwin Spinks, and Michael Phelon on the SVT.
Right: Mr. Spinks stocks his cooler with Gatorade for thirsty trail users.
If you rode on the southern end of the Sangamon Valley Trail this year, you may have noticed a cooler sitting out in a backyard just north of Iles Avenue. The cooler is stocked with water and Gatorade and is available to runners, walkers and cyclists. There's no charge for the beverages although small groups of trail users sometimes make donations to "pay it forward" to the next group.
Who is the friendly benefactor who looks out for thirsty trail users? Is it a running club? A charitable organization? No, the cooler is owned and stocked by Edwin Spinks, a homeowner along the trail whose back yard faces the trail. Throughout the outdoor season he has kept his cooler stocked for cyclists, walkers and runners offering refreshments just because he gets joy from giving.
A former golfer, Mr. Spinks had to stop due to physical limitations. He enjoys meeting people when he's outside and often has a smoker going in his back yard.
Thank you Mr. Spinks for being a good neighbor and sharing with others!