Can and bottle drive continues in Parkrose

See the ‘Parkrose Can Clan’ in action once again – and here’s your reminder to take redeemable containers there on April 7 …

Parkrose High senior Karissa Paltridge, helps haul deposit return bottles and cans to help earn money for her Broncos Track & Field Team.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
As seen in the East Portland News COMMUNITY CALENDAR every month, Parkrose School District organizations are hoping you’ll remember to take your deposit-return bottles and cans to Parkrose Middle School on the first Saturday of each month.

At the event we attended, the Bronco Track & Field Team members were busy helping “Can Man Dave” Luce to sort, gather, and bundle the refundable containers which help their organization, and the others this labor of love supports.

These are only some of the students and mentors who showed their Parkrose Track & Field team’s “Bronco Spirit” at a can drive, on a Saturday earlier this year.

As cars and trucks drove up, volunteers from the team hauled the donated cans and bottles to the front of the school, and sorted them into huge bags.

“What keeps me going?” Luce responded to our question. “I like to give back to the community. The pickups from barrels at businesses and organizations – dedicated to our Senior All-night Party – plus these monthly Saturday collections, produced a combined total of $18,000 last season.”

Dave Luce, the “Parkrose Can Man”, says he enjoys being around young people at these drives.

But, standing on the concrete and lifting heavy sacks of cans and bottles on and off the trailer and the truck have taken a toll, Luce said. “I’ll keep doing the monthly Saturday collections throughout the summer, but then, it’s time for me to retire. I will keep my pick-up route to support the All-night Party, though.”

This Saturday, April 7, is the next “Parkrose Boosters Can Drive” – from 9 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Take your deposit-return cans and bottles with you to help support community educational efforts. The place they go is Parkrose Middle School, on NE Shaver Street, across from Parkrose High School.

Call Dave Luce to have large loads picked up, or to answer your questions: (503) 255-3745.

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