Repairs on the leaking roof at the Thorold Legion Branch 17 are finally underway, but the legion still needs money to cover the costs. That’s why they’re organizing a bottle drive on Saturday, June 18.
“Any liquor bottles, beer bottles, wine bottles, alcohol containers—anything you would take back for a refund we’ll be collecting,” says the legion’s first vice-president Glenn Kempson, in an interview with ThoroldToday. “We’ll have a beer truck there. It’ll be like drive-through style. You can drive up, drop your empties off, and continue.”
The bottle drive is the latest fundraiser for the Thorold Legion, as they're looking to raise $90,000 in total to be able to fully repair the roof.
“It’s something that has to be done,” says Kempson. “The roof is leaking now and we can’t sustain the building much longer. It’s just causing damage.”
To help raise the money, the legion launched a GoFundMe page back in January.
“It’s been great,” Kempson says. “The response has been really overwhelming. It’s going very well. We’re about two-thirds our way to getting enough money for the roof.”
The legion will be organizing more events in the future, in hopes of fully covering the costs.
“We will be holding a fundraiser at the end of August,” Kempson says. “We’re calling it a ‘Raise the Roof.’ It’s going to be stag and doe style with prizes.”
Kempson points out that it’s essential that the roof of the legion building gets fixed, because the space is such an important place for the local community.
“The legion helps veterans financially and mentally,” he says. “It’s a rental hall but we lend it out at no costs to veteran and community groups. It’s a place for veterans and members to stop in and visit.”
The bottle drive will take place at the Thorold Legion Branch 17, situated at 3 Ormond Street, on Saturday, June 18 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
