DUMPING COSTLY

Re: No charitable act (SP, Oct. 17). I would like to expand on the issues raised regarding drop-box dumping.

Through Clothesline, a charitable fundraising program, individuals can donate their gently used clothing, small household items and electronics. Proceeds from these support important Canadian Diabetes Association activities such as funding diabetes research, camps for children with Type 1 diabetes, the development of clinical practice guidelines, educational resources and other key programs and services for diabetics and for those who care for them.

Clothesline currently has more than 2,030 drop boxes across Canada, designed to solely accept clothing, cloth-based and footwear donations. Our drop boxes serve the community by providing a convenient method for individuals to donate, while raising funds and diverting items that may otherwise end up in landfills. Last year, it diverted more than 48 million kilograms of clothing, household items and furniture from landfills.

Clothesline is committed to public safety and maintaining our drop boxes. Unfortunately, the program incurs costs to clean the drop boxes and the area around them when dumping occurs. This takes away essential funds that would otherwise be used to support the more than nine million Canadians living with diabetes or prediabetes.

Donors can always schedule a free pickup right from their home by calling us toll-free at 1-800-505-5525 or by visiting www.diabetes. ca/clothesline. Should individuals notice any unusual activity around our drop boxes, please call us. Nicole Raines Operations manager, Sask. Clothesline National Diabetes Trust