Bottle drive makes dent in fundraising goal
Burnaby NewsLeader
September 17, 2009

Volunteers put their first dent into a major fundraising goal to set up a permanent home for the after-school care program at Gilpin elementary last weekend.

A bottle drive raised more than $3,300 plus a BC150 provincial gaming grant of $4,950 ($50 for each of the 99 volunteers who lent a hand) for a grand total of almost $8,300, said Antonia Beck, executive director of South Burnaby Neighbourhood House, which operates the child care.

Beck said the Burnaby school district allowed the new child care to use space in the school starting this fall on condition it establishes a permanent home within three years.

Parents now have the challenge of raising $200,000 to purchase and install two portables–including all the necessary electrical, plumbing and foundation work–at the school for the program….

As for the after-school care program, interest was so high, SBNH held a lottery to fill the 20 available spots, she said.