Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region (Habitat PKR) is inviting community members to turn their “empties into homes” in September by participating in a local bottle drive in support of affordable housing.
Habitat for Humanity Canada is once again partnering with The Beer Store to raise money for Ontario affiliates of the not-for-profit housing organization that aims to help families achieve affordable home ownership. People can drop off their empty beer, wine, and liquor containers at participating locations of The Beer Store in the Peterborough area and in Kawartha Lakes and donate their refund directly to Habitat PKR.
In addition, The Beer Store will also be collecting both cash and debit donations at the checkout, as a means of giving community members more ways to support local affordable housing initiatives.
The money raised in the Peterborough and Kawarthas region will directly support Habitat PKR’s two current housing projects: a single-family home in Fraserville and an accessible duplex in Peterborough’s East City for seven women with disabilities. While the two projects are scheduled for completion by Christmas, Habitat PKR still needs funding to help cover construction costs.
“Our goal is to collect as many empties as possible across Peterborough and the Kawartha region between now and September 21,” Holly McKinnon, Habitat PKR’s communications and marketing manager, told kawarthaNOW.
“It’s tough to set an exact target this year because we have more locations participating in support of Habitat PKR than ever before, which is a great problem to have. What matters most is that every can and bottle really will add up. Something as small as one empty beer bottle really does help build an affordable home.”
McKinnon said she hopes the entire community will rally behind the campaign.
“It’s such an easy way to invest back into your community and make a lasting difference for local families,” she said.
Through the Ontario Deposit Return Program, all beverage alcohol containers purchased in Ontario with a deposit can be returned to The Beer Store. Containers over 100 millilitres carry a deposit of 10 to 20 cents, which can be donated during the bottle drive to help support Habitat PKR’s work to create safe and affordable housing by giving a hand up to homeownership for more families and individuals in the community,
The local Beer Stores participating in the fundraiser are located in Lindsay, Lakefield, Peterborough, Bridgenorth, Hastings, Havelock, Bobcaygeon, Fenelon Falls, Haliburton, and Minden. Locations are subject to change, so Habitat PKR suggested residents visit the website at habitat.ca/bottledrive for the most up-to-date list.
“This is a wonderful partnership, and it’s fantastic to have our local Beer Store locations supporting us this year,” said Habitat PKR CEO Susan Zambonin in a statement.
“What makes it even better is that there’s a Beer Store close to each of our ReStores in Peterborough, Lakefield, and Lindsay. It means people can easily drop off their empties on the way to shop or donate at the Habitat ReStore — a simple way to give back and help build safe, affordable homes for families in our community.”
To date, The Beer Store locations participating in the fundraiser are:
- Bobcaygeon – 25 King Street East
- Bridgenorth – 882 Ward Street
- Fenelon Falls – 125 Lindsay Street
- Haliburton – 15 Hops Drive
- Hastings – 23 Front Street East
- Havelock – 28 Ottawa Street
- Lakefield – 102 Queen Street
- Lindsay – 370 Kent Street West
- Minden – 12325 Highway 35
- Peterborough – 570 Lansdowne Street West
- Peterborough – 139 George Street North
- Peterborough – 1154 Chemong Rd.
- Peterborough – 1900 Lansdowne Street West
Habitat PKR is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to mobilize volunteers and community partners in building affordable housing and promoting affordable homeownership. Habitat gives a “hand-up not a hand-out” to local families and individuals by offering no down payment and geared-to-income monthly payments.
Since 2002, Habitat PKR has supported 96 local families into affordable homeownership.
