Shred-it event coming up to fundraise for palliative care

Do you have boxes of documents that need to be shredded?

Consider helping out a local charitable organization — the Niagara-on-the-Lake Community Palliative Care Service is holding its annual Shred-it fundraiser at Simpson’s Pharmasave Saturday, Aug. 19.

The fundraiser helps dispose of documents safely, preventing identity theft, while paying for the many programs and support services offered free by the palliative care service.

The annual tradition, a good reminder to residents to go through their documents and dispose of them in a way that is safe and secure, has been made more convenient over time, says Bonnie Bagnulo, the local palliative care service’s executive director.

During COVID, the event was moved to the Simpson’s Pharmasave parking lot, where cars could line up, and volunteers would take the boxes of documents to the Shred-it trucks — there was no need for anyone to get out of their cars.

That has continued post-COVID because it’s convenient, and provides a better service for those dropping off documents, says Bagnulo.

In its early days, the Meridian Credit Union sponsored the fundraiser, which was held in the credit union parking lot, with its staff volunteering.

Although it’s moved to Simpson’s, Meridian still pays for the Shred-it trucks as it has from its earliest years, and is still very supportive of the event.

However Simpson’s parking lot offers a great set-up, with an entrance and exit, and space for people to stop, and allow their boxes of material to be taken from trunks.

“Volunteers do all the work,” says Bagnulo. “Just drive up, and you don’t need to get out of your car. Volunteers take care of everything. This is the service we want to provide, making it as easy as we can.”

But please don’t come early, she adds. The event starts at 9 a.m. and goes until 1 p.m., or until the trucks are full. In past years there have been line-ups on the road before that — even before the Shred-it trucks arrive, and some years, when they have arrived, cars are already blocking the entrance.

“The trucks don’t start shredding until 9 a.m. so there is no need to come any sooner than that.”

The cost for shredding is still $8 per bankers box of documents, and $20 for three boxes.

Bagnulo says there has been a decline in the number of boxes dropped off in recent years, as businesses and individuals move to paperless documents.

“But there is definitely still a market for this service, and we hope we can continue to offer it for years to come. The Meridian Credit Union still believes strongly that this is important, for security reasons, and it’s a great fundraiser for us. It helps us to pay for our programs, which are free, and for the first time we’re in a building where we have to pay rent.”

The palliative care organization moved out of the former hospital building and into  offices in the Niagara Medical Clinic building on Niagara Stone Road, a great location which gives them more office space than they had previously.

They have also continued to expand much-needed programming for those requiring palliative care, and to provide a break for caregivers.

“Our program for caregivers is extremely important,” says Bagnulo. “We just started it in the spring and we feel it’s really effective.”

A variety of workshops are offered Thursday at the community centre, including aromatherapy, yoga, art therapy, mindfulness — they are different every week, she says.

There is no need for registration — just show up and have an hour respite. “We invite people to come in and open their minds to something new. It’s free of charge, as are all our services.”

For more information call  905-468-4433.