Stratford man supporting community through scrap metal collection
A Stratford man has made it his mission to help those struggling to put food on the table – and he’s doing it in a very unusual way.
“Anything that’s made out of metal or electronics that has a cord on it, or magnets stick to it, we’ll take it,” Howard Blakeney explained.
It started with an online post about collecting scrap metal, but has since turned into a community movement.
Blakeney takes the proceeds from those discarded items and purchases items for people experiencing food insecurity. His team then gets the food baskets to those who need them the most.
Cleo Verdon, a volunteer with the group, sees a big demand in the area.
“We get them baskets and they start crying because they’re afraid to ask for help... so when we find out about it, we make sure that they get it,” she told CTV News.
Blakeney knows first-hand how hard it is to get a good meal.
“I was born poor and I know what it’s like living in housing,” he said. “I grew up in housing, my kids grew up in housing. They managed to get out of that, so now we’re trying to help everyone else that’s still stuck.”
The crew aims to buy fresh produce or meat, in addition to pantry stables. They say local shop managers have been working with them and often offer a deal when they can.
The team is meeting a crucial need while also helping the community get rid of unwanted items from around their home.
“A lot of them were paying people to come and take their stuff away and now they can get it done for free and it’s for a good cause,” Blakeney said.
“It’s helping a lot of people,” added Verdon. “It’s getting rid of their stuff and it makes them feel really, really good.”
Blakeney and his team collect everything from tin cans to bed frames. Anyone wanting to donate is asked to reach out through Blakeney’s Facebook account.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Hackers release corporate data stolen from London Drugs
Retailer London Drugs says cybercriminals who stole files from its corporate head office last month have released some of the data after it refused to pay a ransom.
Toronto man falls off his chair after seeing $70M Lotto Max win in his bank account
A Toronto man who won $70 million in a recent Lotto Max draw literally fell off his chair when he saw the funds in his bank account.
Montreal-area high school students protest 'sexist' dress code
Approximately 50 Montreal-area students — the vast majority of them female — were suspended Wednesday after their school deemed the shorts they were wearing were too short. On Thursday, several students staged a walk-out to protest what they believe is a "sexist" dress code that unfairly targets girls.
McDavid scores in 2OT to lift Oilers over Stars in West Final opener
Connor McDavid tipped Evan Bouchard's shot from the boards past Dallas Stars goalie Jake Oettinger 32 seconds into the second overtime to give the Edmonton Oilers a 3-2 win in Game 1 of the Western Conference Final..
'Looking over our shoulders': A killing looms large in a little B.C. town
Something shifted in the pretty little village of Lumby, B.C., after Tatjana Stefanski vanished. It used to be the sort of place where parents let their kids roam free or play in the local creek, but everything has changed.
What is 'slapped cheek disease' and should parents be concerned?
Despite its rough name, experts say most cases of 'slapped cheek disease' are mild and not a cause for concern.
American Airlines retreats after blaming a 9-year-old for not seeing a hidden camera in a lavatory
American Airlines has distanced itself from a court filing in which the carrier said a nine-year-old girl should have noticed there was a camera taped to the seat of an airplane lavatory.
Unknown Newfoundland soldier from the First World War heads back home from France after 100 years
Canadian soldiers and government officials arrived in northeastern France this week for a historic mission: returning an unknown Newfoundland soldier back home.
Calgary Philharmonic takes action following investigation into 'deeply troubling' comments by 2 musicians
The Calgary Philharmonic has confirmed its taking action after controversial online comments made by two members of the orchestra.