New Brunswick Association For Community Living (NBACL)

You may have recently heard in the news about some “turf wars” in Ontario over community collection bins. These are the large containers you see around the community where people can deposit donations of used clothing and household items that are ultimately re-sold to raise money for charities. Thanks to a reliable and reputable system here in New Brunswick, we have not experienced the same issues as Ontario. We did, however, want to take this opportunity to share with you how our Community Collection Program works.

When you donate your reusable clothing and household items, either through our free pick-up service or our orange collection bins, you are helping children and adults with an intellectual disability, and their families.

NBACL is under contract to supply donated items to Value Village which has large stores in Moncton, Saint John and Fredericton where used items are sold. NBACL collects 2,000 bags of used closing each week to Value Village (we are paid by weight), and the funds generated support the work of the NBACL. We also receive compensation for items donated directly to Value Village stores. In fact, this program represents nearly 20 percent of NBACL’s overall budget. You can see how the Community Collection Program and our relationship with Value Village are crucial to our ability to provide much-needed help to children and adults with an intellectual disability, and their families. In fact, without the funding we receive through this partnership, we would not be able to offer many of our programs and supports to individuals and their families. That help includes:

Ensuring that a child with an intellectual disability has access to inclusive Enhancing Early Learning and Childcare environments;

Assisting an adult with an intellectual disability to get a job;

Supporting people with an intellectual disability to access the justice system;

Ensuring that a child with an intellectual disability attends and is participating fully in their neighborhood school;

Supporting a person with an intellectual disability and their families to be included in every aspect of community life;

Supporting youth with an intellectual disability with a positive transition from school to work or post-secondary education;

Providing opportunities for children and adults with an intellectual disability to be included and participate in recreation and leisure activities in their communities;

Connecting families to information and other families to allow them to support their son or daughter throughout each milestone of their lives;

And much more...

Given that the money we raise through our used clothing and household items program with Value Village covers nearly 20 percent of our operating costs, you can imagine how important it is that New Brunswickers like you continue to donate. It takes a lot of work on our part, but Value Village is a good partner and it’s a good arrangement.

NBACL formed a partnership with Value Village thirteen years ago, when we were looking for a sustainable way to raise funds to support children and adults with an intellectual disability and their families.

Not only has our partnership allowed us to raise funds for the people we support, it has also helped us raise awareness among Value Village customers, thereby connecting us to families who need our support. And they truly are an organization that “walks the walk.” How? Value Village supports NBACL’s Transition from High School to Adult Life program by allowing us to provide on-the-job training in their stores to high school youth, helping prepare them for employment. Value Village also employs people with an intellectual disability in their stores. So, on behalf of NBACL and those whom we support, thank you for your donations to our Community Collection Program, and thank you for making a difference!

If you have further questions, or to make a donation, please contact us at our toll free number at: 1-866-622-2548.