How aluminum pull tabs become wheelchairs

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 01/12/2019 (2136 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

For many years I’ve been saving pull tabs from drink cans for various charities to aid in the purchase of wheelchairs. I must admit I doubted that wheelchairs could indeed be traded for tabs, but I recently learned the truth.

A basic wheelchair costs $6,000, said Shasta Fisher of Trailblazers Life Choices, and can be obtained in exchange for 95,000 pounds, or 10 million tabs.

“There is approximately 1,500 tabs to a pound, which is worth $60,” Fisher explained.

Over the past year, Trailblazers has gathered enough tabs to purchase three wheelchairs for its clients, Fisher said, and Trailblazers accepts all donations at 1069 Autumnwood Dr.

“People drop off anything — from Ziploc bags to carloads,” she said.

Tabs may come from cat food tins and salmon tins as well as drink cans.

Asked why the whole can is not accepted, Fisher said “The can is made from a different aluminum.”

Now I know.

Trailblazers also supplies residential and daycare services to clients, Fisher said.

“The training begins with placing clients into volunteer positions which will hopefully lead to full-time employment,” Fisher added.

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You can learn about the history of St. Vital by purchasing 2020 calendars from the St. Vital Historical Society. Among the facts it contains is how St. Vital was named and there are plenty of other facts and photos.

The calendars are available at the St. Vital Museum, 600 St. Mary’s Rd., for $5 each or three for $10. Museum hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays.

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New St. Vital Museum administrator Eric Ticzon is looking for volunteers.

Eric has more than 15 years’ experience as an office administrator involved in facilities maintenance and inspections, database design, data entry and verification, report preparation and team co-ordination.

Eric, who has been a volunteer for the past three years, has a master of education degree. He is fluent in English and Tagalog with an intermediate knowledge of Italian.

Bob Holliday is president of the St. Vital Historical Society and a community correspondent for St. Vital. Email him at docholliday90@me.com