EMPTIES are FULL of opportunity!  The Oceanside Grandmothers ask you to save your refundables and bring them to the Parksville Bottle & Recycling Depot, 611 Alberni Highway, on Saturday, August 29th between 8:30 am and 4:00 pm.   All refunds will be directed to the Stephen Lewis Foundation Grandmothers Campaign.  Help support African grandmothers raising children orphaned by AIDS.  For more information, contact: lornareid@shaw.ca

** Please note that grandmothers in the Fairwinds/Nanoose Bay area are asked to leave their refundables at the bottom of their driveway or bring them to Schooner Cove between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm on August 29th.

Pam Vest, our treasurer, is pleased to announce that on a relatively quiet day at the fair we made $1013 for grandmothers and grandchildren in Africa.

Our thanks to all those members who helped make this day a success.

Carol Lundine

Communications

BULLETIN FROM THE WELL PRESERVED GRANNIES:

Many thanks to all the Grannies who have donated canning jars of every size and description. They will be put to good use over the coming months!   Barb Whyte’s herb drying activity is going well and she would welcome contributions of all types of herb (barbwhyte@shaw.ca)

Over the course of the Summer and Fall we would appreciate donations of excess fruit (no giant zucchinis please!)   Lorna Reid will be away for most of July so if you have something that needs to be dealt with in that period could you please freeze it and Lorna will collect it when she returns.

If you are doing preserving for your family please keep the Christmas Extravaganza in mind and put aside a few jars for us.

Submitted by Lorna Reid

Carol Lundine

Communications

BOTTLE & CAN DRIVE:

Carolyn Dodd and Lorna Reid are busy organizing the 2^nd Oceanside Granny Bottle & Can Drive and are planning for it to be even more successful than last year!   We are focusing on the lessons we learned in 2014 and are determined that it will run really smoothly this year.

We are planning a collection point in the Nanoose Bay area – details later.

To be successful we need Grannies and their friends, spouses, neighbours and family to pitch in and give us a hand for a few hours on August 29^th. Specifically we need volunteers to help with a number of different tasks:

• 10 days before the event distribute information flyers to houses on a specified route

• Work with a team of 2 or 3 others and a vehicle on a specified route to collect containers left outside houses for pickup. People with trucks or large vehicles are especially welcome! Probably 9.30-12.

• At the Return- It Depot on Alberni Highway in Parksville sort beverage containers (can be done while seated) for a 3-4 hour shift.

• Count containers into large bags (can be done while seated) for a 3-4 hour shift.

• Receive and distribute containers to sorting &counting tables for a 3-4 hour shift.

• Assist with set up at 8a.m. or clean up between 4 and 5p.m.

• Ask your neighbours if they’ll donate their returnables and take them to the Depot.

• Take responsibility for ensuring that there is coffee and water for the volunteers throughout the day.

We are expecting a busy but fun day and a great way to get know other Grannies. If you can help us with any of the above jobs please let Carolyn Dodd know ASAP. cadodd@shaw.ca

Submitted by Carol Lundine

Communications: