LETTER: Hospice has to pay to dispose of garbage dumped on doorstep

Dear Editor,

The dumping of donations after hours has struck again and again at our local Ridge Meadows Hospice Thrift Store located in the downtown area of Maple Ridge.

I have personally noticed this illegal dumping of possible donations time and time again over the past few years.

The Value Village takes donations throughout the whole day, whereas the Ridge Meadows Hospice Thrift Store has its own designated times for taking in donations displayed on its doors.

All donations are accepted with open arms and what a great charity, being the hospice society, to be donating to.

When any items are just dropped/dumped off after donation hours it then has to be dealt with.

Some items are even off loaded in the wee hours of the night, knowing they are illegally dumping.

That usually means staff has to go through these items and get them indoors after their workday is at a close.

RELATED: Staff at Maple Ridge thrift store searching for owner of discarded Christmas gifts

There are many times when items are dumped after donation hours that do not even meet the standard of a regular donation. Now it is classified as “garbage” and a volunteer will have to be called to gather these items to take to the dump.

The volunteer is unpaid and using their own vehicle to take these items to the transfer station where there is a cost to dump. Any cost to repeatedly clean these situations up means less funds going to charity.

I believe if two cameras were installed they could collect plate numbers and dissuade anyone from illegal dumping.

RECENT LETTER: Maple Ridge resident grateful for hospital staff’s caring treatment

The hard working staff at Ridge Meadows Hospice Thrift Store whole-heartedly appreciates all of your contributions and donations and its customers.

Please check online for thrift store website for donating times.

Gene Cordoni, Maple Ridge

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