As the City of Richmond pulls dangerous donation bins off public property, one local charity has pointed out there are other ways to donate clothes and used household items, which helps support the organization's activities.
Earlier in January, after the death of several people who got trapped in donation bins, the city ordered five local charities that had bins on public property to remove them or lock them up – the five charities were: Richmond Society for Community Living, Auxiliary to BC Children’s Hospital, Developmental Disabilities Association (DDA), Canucks Autism Network and National Diabetes Trust (Canadian Diabetes Association).
Kevin Chan with DDA pointed out there are other ways to donate to their non-profit.
“While we do rely on donation bins as a form of fundraising, we also operate a free clothing pickup service and have a couple drop-off locations in Richmond,” Chan said in an email. “The funds we collect from clothing donations are put towards providing programs and services for over 1,800 individuals with developmental disabilities and their families in Vancouver and Richmond.”
Their programs help people of all ages, Chan continued, from infant development programs, child development centres, residential and respite programs and family support.
City staff have also spoken to these five charities about removing dangerous bins on private property and are in the process of scanning the city to look for unsafe bins.
Richmond city spokesperson Ted Townsend said the city could regulate bins on private property through zoning bylaw but this might require a bylaw amendment.
"Our first approach has been to work with bin operators to encourage them to voluntarily remove the bins that have the design issue from private property and so far most seem to be complying," Townsend explained in an email.
“Frankly, I would be surprised at a charity who is not concerned with the safe use of their bins,” said Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie.
To have household items and clothing picked up by DDA, call 604-273-4332 or email clothing4DDA@develop.bc.ca.
