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
From AI running wild to collapsing ecosystems, government report outlines future disruptions
From artificial intelligence running wild to collapsing ecosystems, a new Canadian government report outlines 35 disruptions that could rattle the country in the near future.
B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton hospitalized after prison attack
British Columbia serial killer Robert Pickton was attacked and sustained life-threatening injuries in a Quebec prison Sunday in what officials described as a 'major assault.'
opinion Tom Mulcair: With Trudeau spiralling, Mark Carney waits in the wings
In his latest column for CTVNews.ca, former NDP leader Tom Mulcair argues that if there's an unofficial frontrunner in the eventual race to replace Justin Trudeau as Liberal leader, it has to be former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney.
Toronto Blue Jays fan struck by 110 m.p.h foul ball offered tickets, signed baseball by team
The Toronto Blue Jays have offered tickets and a signed baseball to a fan who says she was struck in the face by a 110 m.p.h (177 km/h) foul ball at Friday’s game.
Matthew Perry's death is being investigated over ketamine level found in actor's blood, reports say
An investigation has been opened into the death of Matthew Perry and how the “Friends” actor received the anesthetic ketamine, which was ruled a contributing factor in his death.
OPP continues to investigate boat collision north of Kingston, Ont. that left 3 people dead
Ontario Provincial Police continue to investigate a long weekend fatal boat collision on Bobs Lake, north of Kingston, Ont.
Police in Ontario say suspects charged in armed home invasion near Toronto part of 'larger criminal network'
Police in Ontario say a group of suspects charged in an armed home invasion north of Toronto last year were driving a vehicle stolen in a carjacking in Calgary just one month earlier.
Stolen septic truck swerves through traffic, spike belt needed to stop it: Manitoba RCMP
A 29-year-old woman has been charged after police say she stole a septic truck from a Manitoba community and drove erratically on the highway.
Orphan orca's extended family spotted off northeast side of Vancouver Island
Members of a killer whale pod related to an orphan orca calf that escaped a remote British Columbia tidal lagoon last month have been spotted off the northeast coast of Vancouver Island.