Cave Junction, OR – The Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative (OBRC) has stepped in to support Cans For Kids, a program run by the Illinois Valley Community Development Organization (IVCanDO), after a theft of donated cans and bottles. Cans For Kids, which collects recyclable cans and bottles to support youth-focused organizations in the Illinois Valley, recently faced a setback when a substantial quantity of cans and bottles were stolen from their storage trailer. Thanks to OBRC’s Containers for Change program, in addition to the generous donations received from community members, Cans for Kids will be able to recoup its losses and continue its mission of empowering the youth in the region through a generous donation.
“The Cans for Kids program leverages beverage container donations to provide critical services for young people in the community. When we learned that somebody had recently stolen the containers they use to provide those programs, the beverage industry wanted to be part of the solution. Oregon’s Bottle Bill does a great job of preventing litter and dramatically increasing recycling rates, but its strength is most pronounced when community groups harness the power of containers to provide critical services in their communities. We’re proud to be a partner in that.”
– Eric Chambers, vice president of strategy and outreach at the Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative
Cans For Kids has long been a beloved source of support for the youth in the Illinois Valley, promoting environmental sustainability through recycling and distributing the proceeds to local youth-focused initiatives. The recent theft could have threatened the program’s ability to fulfill its mission, but the support of our community and partners like OBRC, will help Cans For Kids recover its losses and continue its valuable work.
Additionally, OBRC worked with IVCanDO to find solutions to better secure storage facilities and are working with local businesses to provide additional security measures to deter future theft.
IVCanDO expresses its gratitude for OBRC’s timely assistance, emphasizing the impact this donation will have on the lives of the youth in the Illinois Valley. The resolution to this unfortunate event serves as a testament to the resilience and unity of the Illinois Valley in the face of adversity. If you would like to support the Cans for Kids program, the donation station accepts donations of recyclable, clean – not crushed! – cans and bottles on Saturdays from 10:00am – 1:45pm behind Caves Chevron.
