What’s happening?
The New Westminster Firefighters’ Charitable Society is holding its annual shred-athon on Sunday, May 27 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Canada Games Pool parking lot, 65 East Sixth Ave. Community members and small businesses are invited to bring their confidential papers and have them shredded on site.
“As soon as people drop off their paper, it goes right into the shredding machine,” said firefighter Glen Bailey, president of the charitable society. “We don’t stack it up and hold on to it for an hour – it gets shredded right there and then.”
Any tips?
“Come early,” Bailey suggests. “Don’t wait till 3 o’clock. Even though Shred-it has donated three trucks, last year within about two hours the trucks filled up and were almost overflowing. If you’ve got paper, come by as early in the event as you can.”
At last year’s event, some people left disappointed because they were unable to have their papers shredded at the event.
“According to Shred-it, we are the most successful charitable shredding event that they host,” Bailey said. “Everything is by donation.”
What’s the vibe like?
The charitable society aims to make the event fun for folks of all ages. Attendees can enjoy a barbecue, live music from New Westminster Secondary School students, face painting and popcorn.
“There’s lots of fun to be had,” Bailey said. “The event is getting bigger and bigger, which is good for us.”
What does the charitable society do?
Through events like the annual Christmas tree chipping and shred-athon, the society raises funds that it donates to various community groups and programs, including meal programs at schools and churches and the pediatrics unit at Royal Columbian Hospital
Is the charitable society working on any other projects?
The society is hoping to find a date in the fall to host the Hydrant Cup, a charity hockey game between the Vancouver Canucks Alumni and the firefighters’ hockey team, and is working on a couple of new events. Stay tuned.
