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Gift of Warmth campaign collecting warm clothing for Vancouver’s binners

With the winter weather upon us, a group of local organizations and businesses have come together to collect warm clothing for Vancouver’s binners.

 Gift of Warmth aims to collect warm winter clothing for Vancouver’s binner community. Photo courtesy Vancouver Regional RecyclingGift of Warmth aims to collect warm winter clothing for Vancouver’s binner community. Photo courtesy Vancouver Regional Recycling

With the winter weather upon us, a group of local organizations and businesses have come together to collect warm clothing for Vancouver’s binners.

Vancouver Regional Recycling, along with SPUD, the Binners’ Project and Working Gear, announced Friday the official launch of Gift of Warmth in support of the city’s binner community.

Until Dec. 14, Vancouver Regional Recycling will be accepting donations of warm winter clothing and gear for some of the city’s most vulnerable residents. Donations can be dropped off at the Vancouver depot (960 Evans Ave.) seven days a week between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Spud.ca’s weekly bin program will also be accepting donations.

“Our Vancouver depot services a high number of binners — people who make their living from pulling recyclable materials from the garbage and returning them to us for their deposit refunds,” Jason Smith, a general manager with Vancouver Regional Recycling, said in a press release.

“A lot of our binner clients come in with wet shoes and wet clothing and they have nothing to change into. We put together this event to support them during the wet, cold winter months.”

Residents can also donate refundable beverage containers to a fund that will purchase new socks and underwear for binners that use the Vancouver depot.

Items that are greatly needed include:

  • New adult male socks and underwear
  • Gently used adult male warm winter wear, such as sweaters, long-sleeved shirts, jackets, outerwear and footwear
  • Outdoor gear, such as tents, tarps, blankets and sleeping bags

“These individuals do a great service for the community and for our environment,” Smith said. “They go through other people’s trash to make sure items that shouldn’t end up in landfills are returned to the recycling loop.”

Vancouver Regional Recycling is hosting a free public barbecue at the Vancouver depot on Dec. 14 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. During the event the depot’s binner clients will have a chance to pick out some warm winter items for themselves.

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