Homeless Heroes

Together, we can all create a better world than the one we were given.

When you’re out in Calgary, you are certain to encounter all kinds of people – including those who are Calgary’s most vulnerable citizens. Our homeless. Yet homelessness is not just simply people who don’t have reliable shelter. It’s a mark of a city that has lost its way.

But we know Calgary is an incredible place, full of people who are ready to roll up their sleeves and make a difference.

Homelessness is not a choice. It’s a lack of choice. It affects those who have intersections that add up to being unable to access enough resources to have reliable shelter. And once a Calgarian becomes homeless, a compound effect begins to take place – keeping them swept up in a river they alone cannot escape.

True Environmental Heroes

Oftentimes, the homeless population do what is necessary to earn income to feed themselves or purchase items that they need. One of the primary ways they do this is by collecting bottles and cans to bring to depots.

We see the judgment in the eyes of many when faced with bottle pickers. They turn up their noses. We don’t.

We recognize that these citizens are some of the best environmental heroes we can think of. They comb through the city to pick up recyclables – cleaning up the environment while also earning income. And it’s no easy task. Without a vehicle or reliable access to transit, they often have to carry heavy loads of recyclables to the depot in exchange for some change to get through their day.

A Rising Tide Lifts All Boats

While we may all be in the same storm, we are not in the same boat. That is why this season we ask you to help us help Calgary’s vulnerable homeless population. COVID-19 has hit all of us hard, but many of us are better off than others.

In support of Giving Tuesday, we are proud to partner with Alpha House Calgary to supply as many of their clients as we can with items they need to stay warm and safe on the streets while they are collecting recyclables. Items we are collecting via donation include:

• New, never worn socks
• Warm winter gloves – preference would be the flip-top mittens, but all donations help!
• Toques
• Boxes of recycling bags or large reusable bags (like IKEA bags)
• Warm vests or jackets (gently used is ok)

You can drop your donations off at Sage Hill Bottle Depot. If you prefer to make a cash donation, there are a few ways you can do that. 100% of all donations received will be used to purchase items from the list above to benefit Alpha House Calgary.

• When bringing your recyclables to Sage Hill Bottle Depot, you can simply tell your counter at the beginning of your visit that you wish to donate your refund directly to Alpha House
• We have a cash donation box at the machine where you can contribute whatever you are comfortable with.
• You can donate directly to Alpha House Calgary on their website. Please make sure you dedicate the donation to Sage Hill Bottle Depot in the dedication box so they know what your donation should be used for!

We appreciate your support! Please share this blog with your family and friends and encourage them to donate. You can also join our community on Facebook to learn more about this initiative.