Many Happy Returns to County’s hospital
Administrator | Dec 16, 2015 | Comments 2
The Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation was the happy recipient this week of $100 from David Hepburn and his Many Happy Returns initiative.
David, a worker with the Community Living program, regularly collects beer and liquor bottles from various Prince Edward County homes, returns them to the Beer Store and donates the money he collects.
His aim is to make a $100 donation each month to a worthy cause in the County. This week’s gift is the fourth $100 deposit to a charity David has spearheaded, with the first being to Community Living, then 99.3 County FM, followed by the Food Bank. He said January’s effort will go toward the PEC Syria fund.
David’s parents, Noreen Vader and David Mackay thank all of David’s bottle/can donors for their continued support. Many Happy Returns keeps returnable containers out of the landfills and contributes to local charities.
David also reminds County residents he is available to pick up bottles after Christmas and New Year’s parties. Call Many Happy Returns at 613-698-0181 or e-mail him at hep.david@gmail.com. Or you can contact him through his Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/Many-Happy-Returns-440910052771604/?fref=ts ). This is where future donations will also be announced.
FULL STORY BELOW:
David pays it forward with Many Happy Returns
DEC. 4 – Starting a small business is always a daunting and challenging task. It is even more so if the business owner has intellectual challenges. Nevertheless, with the help of family and friends, David Hepburn, a resident of a Community Living group home in Picton , has started an innovative project called ‘Many Happy Returns’.
Three times a week David and an assistant travel throughout the County picking up returnable bottles that would ordinarily go to landfill sites. But what makes this project unique is that the money raised is donated to local charities.
The concept grew out of David’s exceptionalities, which include an obsession with sorting, organizing and counting. During his weekly visits home to his parents, Noreen Vader and David Mackay, he demonstrated a keen interest in organizing beer and wine bottles and returning them to the Beer Store for what he called “ winning money”.
It was a wonderful social outing for him as well as the staff always greeted him with a welcome reminiscent of a “Cheers” episode. An opportunity to expand this weekly ritual presented itself through an article in a local paper that described the extensive cost to taxpayers of returnable bottles that were put in the recyle bins or thrown out.
With the help of friends and family David began to travel about the County picking up bottles. The project began to gain momentum when he used the first $100 of his business as a donation to an innovative housing project sponsored by Community Living. He has also presented $100 to 99.3 FM, to the Food Bank. The hospital is next on his list. Each month he hopes to make a similar donation to a different charity.
Various local businesses rallied behind the idea and a van has been purchased and logos designed so that he could get his message out.
“It is truly another example of how the people of Prince Edward County will always support a worthwhile cause, said his mom. “The concept is simple but will have many benefits for the community and for David as he sets out to pay it forward to the community that has been so good to him.”
Those interested in this service can contact Many Happy Returns at 613 968 0181 or through David Hepburn’s Facebook page, where future donations will also be announced.
As well, if residents have an idea for a local charity that could benefit from this service suggestions are welcome.
Filed Under: cheers • Local News
About the Author:
I wish you every success with your new business venture David. Thank you for giving back to our community.
Bless his heart! He is a kind and generous man. I am grateful for people, like David, who pay it forward in this community.