After his column (Wednesday, November 17, 2015) about chasing recycling on a windy pick-up day, Campbell River Mirror editor, Alistair Taylor, experienced a grandmotherly intervention.
The local Grandmothers to Grandmothers group presented the editor with a specially-designed cover for his blue recycling bin. Grandmothers’ members Karen King and Vicki Simmons explained that the bin-lid has been designed to fit the blue bins issued to Campbell River households for recycling, and are for sale.
Limited numbers of the bin covers, along with other socially and environmentally conscious gifts, will be on sale at the Grandmothers to Grandmothers’ table at Saturday’s Fair Trade Global Market at Timberline School, starting at 10 a.m.
Made from scrap plywood or oriented strand board, each bin cover is heavy enough to not blow away, fits cleanly within the rim of the standard recycling bin, and has an opening to make lifting the cover easy for recycling truck workers as well as for the householder. The covers are painted with durable exterior paint in a light colour so the householder’s address can be added with a permanent felt marker.
Also featured at the Grandmothers table are special seasonal sweaters, like the two worn by presenters Vicki and Karen in the photo (above) . The sweaters are up-cycled, uniquely decorated previously-owned garments, intended to appeal to people looking for what to wear to a work-place Ugly Sweater Day, or to any Christmas event where the emphasis is on fun. Styles range from the seasonally tacky but timely, to the almost-Glam.
Because each sweater is unique, the selection of colours, styles and sizes is limited.
The Grandmothers to Grandmothers also will be offering their much-anticipated delicious seasonal baking and greenery arrangements, plus other specialty crafts. All proceeds from the sale go to the Stephen Lewis Foundation which helps African Grandmothers raising children orphaned by AIDS. To date, the Campbell River Grandmothers to Grandmothers group has raised more than $66,500 for the Grandmothers Campaign of the Stephen Lewis Foundation.
The Grandmothers group meets on the first Thursday of each month at 7:15 p.m. at the United Church Fellowship Hall at the corner of Birch Street and Pinecrest Road.
See www.campbellrivergrandmothers2grandmothers.org for more information about their work.