With help from approximately 100 volunteers and four recycling trucks, the 5th Garry Oaks Scouts bottle drive was a resounding success, raising $5,500 for Oak Bay Scouts.
“This is the most we’ve ever raised,” said organizer Annmarie Scanlan-Gough. “There’s always stuff you can jig from year to year, but it was really successful. I was just amazed how so many people were working so hard with a common goal, and we had a great result.”
READ MORE: Expanded Scout bottle drive Saturday
The fundraising goal for this year’s drive was $4,000. Before the event on Jan. 5, group registrar and beaver scouter Lucy Mears, said the Scouts can usually count on at least $2,500 in bottles.
Scanlan-Gough said it was doubling the number of pickup routes that drove in the funds. In addition to having drop-off points in Fireman’s Park or at their hall, the Scouts have traditionally offered to pick up bottles in northern Oak Bay. This year they expanded south, covering most of the municipality. They delivered flyers where they would be offering the pick-up service.
“One or two Scouts would go out with parents and family and pick up these routes. About 90 per cent of it was going and picking up the bottles with the little signs saying it was for the Scouts,” Scanlan-Gough said. “It was an inspirational event, that’s for sure. There was Scouts involved, parents involved and grandparents. Everyone was just working together, it was pretty cool.”
Although Scouts fundraise for various causes throughout the year, this event is special because all of the proceeds stay with the 5th Garry Oaks. The funds are usually used to help get Scouts outside with safe gear and for hall maintenance.
Jesse Laufer [9:37 AM]
jesse.laufer@oakbaynews.com
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