HARRISTON – Greg Blagdon of Harriston has hit his annual goal in an ongoing effort to help purchase wheelchairs.
Blagdon has been collecting pop tabs since his school days in support of a project started many years ago by Elora Legion member Jack Baumber.
The project involves collecting aluminum pop can tabs, which are sold to a Guelph company that only buys from Elora Legion Branch 229. The branch uses the proceeds from the aluminum sales to purchase walkers, wheelchairs and motorized scooters for people who need them.
The Elora Legion started collecting pop tabs in 1988 and gave away its first wheelchair a year later. The branch’s website indicates it has given away 2,662 wheelchairs as of last July.
Since 2016, Blagdon has been collecting pop tabs and donating them through Harriston Legion Branch 296. The word has spread and Blagdon has received tabs from as far away as Honey Harbour, London, Milton and Durham. He has even received tabs in the mail.
Again this year Blagdon has hit his goal of filling 30 two-litre bottles with pop tabs. He recently delivered the bottles, each containing 2,800 tabs, to the local Legion.
Blagdon’s mother Victoria Waltham-Kingsley notes Blagdon plans to continue his efforts, “One tab at a time, with lots of patience and a big heart helping people in need.”
