In 2019 Inverness County Cares (ICC) was searching for a new fundraising idea. Ted Van Zutphen suggested collecting refundable beverage containers. Zutphen Construction provided us with two used box truck trailers and our new fundraiser was in operation.
One trailer is located in Mabou by the Freshmart and the other is in Port Hood by Ted and Hermina Van Zutphen’s lane, (at the Corner in Port Hood). We thank Ted and Hermina, Wayne and Karen Beaton, for allowing us to use these prime locations to park the collector trailers.
The proceeds from the refundable beverage containers goes to support the Kawambwa Schools in Northern Zambia. These schools provide an education and shelter for children with visual impairments and Albinism. In the past six years, since Inverness County Cares began to support the schools, many improvements have been made and the children’s standard of living has improved greatly. Chalice and ICC have worked in partnership to provide better living accommodations, satisfying amounts of good nutritious food, clothing, personal hygiene items, medical care and educational supplies, including laptops and braille paper. Beverage refundable funds have been used to provide running water and repair sewer lines to the schools. The renovation of several buildings was funded by the beverage container collection as well. The biggest beneficiaries of your generosity are the grateful students at St. Mary and St. Odilia schools in north eastern Zambia.
We accept soft drink cans and bottles, alcoholic beverage containers, water bottles, juice bottles and cans and Tetra packs. We cannot use milk containers or any other containers that did not contain beverages. Charlie mentions, that removing the bottle caps helps to make sorting much easier.
This operation involves a lot of teamwork. In Mabou, Stanley Beaton and Raymond Debont arrange the beverage containers and stack the bags to provide maximum space. In Port Hood Ted Van Zutphen monitors the load in the trailer and he Michael MacDonald and Brendan Moloney stack the bags.
When the trailers are full, they are towed (often by a Zutphen truck) to the Enviro depot behind the Admiral Tavern in Port Hood. On arrival, a combination of Charlie MacDonald, John MacInnis, John Gillies, Archie MacLeod, Colleen MacLeod or Francis MacIsaac spend about 40 minutes transferring the containers to the Enviro Depot where Charlie MacDonald spends approximately 10 hours sorting the beverage containers.
We are very thankful for the amazing support of our community members who donate their beverage containers. Each year our collection numbers increase.
The six Inverness County members who travelled to the Zambian schools in January and February 2024 saw with their own eyes the improvements which have made life so much more pleasant for staff and students. Every bag of recyclables you contribute brings in some way a smile and a “Thank You” from an appreciative child in these schools. Your continued support is valued by Inverness County Cares.
Inverness County Cares (ICC) is a local charitable organization, founded in 2012 and based in Inverness County, NS, Canada. ICC works in partnership with Chalice.ca, a Canadian charity, based in Bedford, Nova Scotia. Chalice provides guidance and assistance to help ICC provide a better life for the children at the Kawambwa schools. The Kawambwa Project involves supporting two schools for albino and visually impaired students, in Northern Zambia. Inverness County Cares always welcomes new members. Individuals who wish to donate, can use the donate button on our website https://invernesscountycares.com When using E-transfer, please include your mailing address for CRA tax receipts and a thank you message. E-transfer address: [email protected] or send a cheque to Inverness County Cares, 5414 Route 19, Judique, NS, Canada, B0E1P0. Taxation receipts provided for USA and Canada.
