Parkrose ‘Can Drive’ revs up again

They’re taking proper precautions, but the COVID-19 coronavirus hasn’t ended the Parkrose Bottle & Can Drive – save up your deposit-returns and bring them on October 3 …

In outer East Portland, dense wildfire smoke doesn’t stop the September Parkrose Bronco Boosters Beverage Bottle & Can Drive at Parkrose Middle School.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

With school campuses being closed down due to the COVID-19 coronavirus, it looked as if the Parkrose Bronco Boosters Beverage Bottle & Can Drive might not return, after deciding to “pause” their first-Saturday-of-the-month fundraiser back in March.

“We’ve come up with ways to hold it; and last month, August, was our first month back,” confirmed organizer Peggy Meighen.

Many folks have been saving up their return-deposit bottles and cans for their drive, grins organizer Peggy Meighen.

“We’re guessing folks had been saving up a ton of their deposit-return bottles and cans for us, and the community really came through – because it took three loads of our 20-foot trailer – filled to the brim – to haul them all to the Oregon Beverage Recycling Center, giving us a $5,000 month!” Meighen exclaimed to East Portland News.

The money raised goes to fund Parkrose scholarships, the Senior All-Night Party, and student activity and athletic groups who petition the Parkrose Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) for support, Meighen pointed out.

Flanked by Peggy and Greg Meighen, neighbor John Kangas comes by to drop off cans on September’s collection day.

“Since the campuses of our elementary schools have been closed, they haven’t been able to do any fundraising for their programs, so the PTO may contribute to some of their programs,” she said.

If it hadn’t been for the thick, hazardous smoke from wildfires that was blanketing the area, a student group would have also been there to help. “Each group who helps gets $500 for working at the event; and there’s a different student group helping each month – in October, it’ll be the Parkrose High School Band,” said Meighen. “So, we’ll be back on the first Saturday of every month, starting in October.”

“…Barring the another natural disaster, or a zombie apocalypse,” quipped her husband and project partner, Greg Meighen.

“Every deposit-return bottle really helps,” says project partner, Greg Meighen.

October 3
Parkrose Bronco Boosters Beverage Bottle & Can Drive

9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Donate your deposit-return cans and bottles
Parkrose Middle School front entrance, at 11800 NE Shaver Street, 97220.
For information, large pick ups, contact Patty Meighen at pmeighen@hotmail.com.

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