Murrayville鈥檚 Saran family is resuming its annual bottle drive this year in support of the Canucks Autism Network after the pandemic altered last year鈥檚 event.
Sherry Saran鈥檚 now 10-year-old son Ethan was diagnosed with autism when he was five. The diagnosis meant a lot of learning for everyone in the family and changes in perception.
鈥淲e lacked the education what a child on the spectrum is suppose to be like,鈥� Saran said.
Through Canucks Autism Network (CAN) Ethan took part in activities he enjoyed like swimming.
鈥淲e really hold [the network] dear to our hearts,鈥� Saran said.
CAN is a non-profit that offers programs to individuals with autism and their families.
鈥淭he cool thing about it is that they do one-on-one [lessons],鈥� Saran said, noting her son experienced individualized attention that he may not have received in a group.
Now the local family is working to raise awareness ahead of World Autism Awareness Day on April 2 and help support CAN so they can continue to offer those programs.
鈥淭he community support is huge,鈥� Saran noted. 鈥淏ut if you don鈥檛 talk about it, you won鈥檛 get the support.鈥�
It鈥檚 something Saran said she learned after sharing her family story with the community. She also wants to be a hand others can reach for.
鈥淚 want people to know I鈥檓 easily accessible,鈥� Saran said.
This year鈥檚 event will held on March 27 from 1 to 4 p.m. at 91原创 Fundamental Elementary School ().
The family hosted an inaugural fundraiser at Arthur Rose Park in 2019 that saw the community help the Sarans raise $5,700.
鈥淚t was a huge undertaking; we didn鈥檛 realize the huge outpour of support we were going to get,鈥� Saran recalled.
READ MORE: VIDEO: 91原创 drive overwhelms family and bottle depots
The family had planned for a 2020 fundraiser, but the event was suspended due to the pandemic.
Instead an account was registered with Return-It recycling where the public could donate their refund to the fundraiser.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been quite successful,鈥� Saran noted.
The COVID-friendly bottle drive raised $500, and the family plans to match that amount when members deliver this year鈥檚 cheque to CAN with a combined total from the 2020 and 2021 fundraisers.
READ MORE: 91原创 School District welcomes first autism support dog
The bottle drive will comply with current Provincial Health Orders. The Saran family members will be working in their safe bubble.
Ethan鈥檚 sister, Emma, will be joined by her friends from her Grade 10 cohort. The group will be in the area of 216th Street and Fraser Highway waving posters to help direct traffic to the school.
People are asked to drive-by 91原创 Fundamental Elementary where a volunteer will gather their donation.
鈥淵ou don鈥檛 have to get out of the vehicle,鈥� Saran explained.
Those who are not able to attend are welcome to drop off their donations at their facility and ask that the money go to the CAN bottle drive account (7783227696).
: Recyclables piling up? & her family are leading a charity bottle drive!
鈥� Canucks Autism Network (@canucksautism)
Visit 91原创 Fundamental School; Sat, Mar 27 (1-3pm). Just drive through & your cans/bottles will be safely picked up from your car!
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joti.grewal@blackpress.ca
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