A special tool drive initiative organized by the Seaside Cruizers Car Club was a rousing success.
Club members were out on several weekends last month, at the Central Builders Home Hardware Building Centre parking lot in French Creek and Dolly’s Home Hardware in Qualicum Beach, collecting a variety of new and used home tools. The initiative was designed to help rebuilding efforts in flooded areas of B.C.
Organizer Dave Field said “the generosity of the people from our local community was amazing.”
“Overall we collected enough tools that when boxed and wrapped up, were stacked on 12 pallets,” he said. “The shipping department at the Home Hardware Distribution Centre in Wetaskawin, Alta. generously offered to pick up and drop off the pallets at their destination, The Yarrow Food Hub, just outside Chilliwack. It became part of their backhaul to Alberta.”
Field had special thanks for the two stores, the community donors and media who helped spread the word.
READ MORE: Special tool donation event planned in PQB to assist victims of B.C.-wide flooding
READ MORE: Seaside Cruizers collect eight truck loads of tools to help flooding victims
He also highlighted a variety of interactions.
“A lady spoke to me in Qualicum Beach about what things we might need. I gave her a couple ideas and suggested she check out the tool section in Dolly’s Home Hardware,” said Field. “She went inside and about 15 minutes later came over to us, with a store employee, who was pushing a large box containing a new, 6500-watt generator which she purchased and then donated.”
He continued: “Another time, at Central Builders, two ladies came up to me and donated a couple brand-new hand tools plus two Home Hardware gift cards with a value totalling $400. They explained that they really didn’t know what else we needed so donated the gift cards which will be used by the Yarrow Food Hub to purchase tools or other items they still need.”
— NEWS Staff