The Coronavirus has forced non-profits around Saskatchewan to cancel their fundraisers, but the Dr.Noble Irwin Regional Healthcare Foundation has introduced a new program while abiding by regulations stopping the spread of COVID-19.

They recently launched the Drive-Thru Recycling Depot Fundraiser, in which the healthcare foundation has teamed up with the Swift Current Home Hardware Legionnaires and Triways to help gather recyclables to raise funds for the Close to the Heart Campaign, as well as the Legionnaires hockey program.

That campaign is about $30,000 off from their goal of $350,000 to buy a digital mammography machine.

While the SARCAN Depot in Swift Current is closed, Carol Andrews, the development officer/communications officer for the foundation, said it was a good opportunity to benefit healthcare in southwest Saskatchewan.

“People have a lot of stuff piling up in their garages, basements, etcetera. With spring cleaning and the warmer weather here, everyone’s eager to start cleaning things out. We had a good run of our Drive-Thru Recycle Depot Yesterday [April 27].”

She shared that while other fundraisers for Dr. Noble such as their Black Tie NHL Hockey Draft and their Charity Golf Classic have had to be cancelled or moved, the recycling drive is a good way to adapt to COVID-19 and continue fundraising.

Their annual general meeting is also being affected by the virus.

“Rather than having that in person, it's actually going to be via video conference,” Andrews stated. “If anyone who is interested in attending our 20th AGM, all you have to do is contact our office by email, register that way and we’ll send you the video link.”

While the Legionaries are working to pick up recyclables from donors' cars, Triways participated by giving the bin used to hold donations. Triways will also take the recyclables to the SARCAN once they reopen.

She added that all of their volunteers were practicing social distancing, as well as wearing gloves and masks while supporting the community.

Today is the last day of the bottle drive, which will be operating from four p.m until eight p.m. at the main parking lot of the Innovation Credit Union iPlex.

She offered her thanks to the community and said that any donation, big or small, helps them out,

While unsure of the total amount of donations to the program, Andrews said the southwest had been generous so far.