Shelburne pays it forward while supporting Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October 11, 2013 · 0 Comments

As October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, many citizens far and wide did their best to raise money for the vitally important cause and J. Coles & Grandad UK Ltd., Textile Recycling Worldwide of Shelburne were proud to take part on Saturday, October 5th hosting a massive warehouse garage sale where all proceeds were donated to Breast Cancer Research.

Raising almost $500.00 for Breast Cancer research, Textile Recycling Worldwide did not stop there. Left with a large number of children’s skates for girls and boys and hockey equipment, the company was able to donate the entire stock to Glenbrook Elementary School.

Principal Tom Thompson had this to say, “We’re hoping to develop a hockey team that will be non-contact, non-competitive, co-ed, and really fun, so this donation will be very helpful to kids in the school and in the community.”

Following that, Textile Recycling then delivered a huge donation of top quality items to Paws & Claws in Shelburne. Store Manager, Jean Miller commented, “We were very pleased to receive donations that will help raise money for homeless animals.”

Manager for the Recycling company, Kieth Trimble has been with the company for a few years and cannot remember a more satisfying job than the one he has now admitting, “You’ll never meet nicer people,” referring to owners Alec Coles and his wife, Maureen. “They really mean it when they say they want to do good.” Trimble is also responsible for the wonderfully handcrafted clothing drop-off boxes generously donated to the Shelburne Air Cadets 164Squadron, “Our boxes are really well made from pressure treated wood, they are shingled, and inside the floors are specially designed to keep items dry,” said Trimble.

When citizens of a community are generous to this degree there is often a back story behind what drives them forward.

The Coles are originally from England. When Alec Coles’ Grandfather returned from WWI with an honorable discharge and an amputated leg, he was left with a situation where he had to find some way to support his family. Without many options, he became what was then known as Rag and Bones Man. Back in the day, Rag and Bones Men would scour the city for used and unwanted items such as rags, bones, and broken glass. This was for the purpose of recycling and it wasn’t always easy. This job meant long days and hard physical labour and even more determination was required to be successful, which it did, eventually becoming the family business. Alec joined the business in 1972 at just 22 years old and relocated to Canada in 1990. Thursday, October 10th will mark the Coles 43rd wedding anniversary and though this dynamic duo came from humble, hardworking beginnings, it’s no surprise the Coles are not only happy to give back, in their opinion, this is the way the world should be.

“We want to help good charities,” Coles explained. “We will provide the box free of charge and the charities provide their own clearly marked signs. It’s so wonderful helping people.”

“It’s a ‘win- win’ situation for everyone involved,” commented Trimble.

This specific type of “good will” keeps generating good will. People donated clothes and items, a garage sale generated money for Breast Cancer, children will get to skate and play hockey, and items donated to Paws & Claws will help homeless animals.

Perhaps to quote Roald Dahl, from the Author’s masterpiece Willie Wonka and Chocolate Factory sums it up best, “ And so shines a good deed in a weary world.”

If you are a charity in need of help or would like more information, call 519-925-9374, email jcolesgrand@hotmail, or visit the website at www. textilerecyclingworldwide.com

By Alex Sher