The National Diabetes Trust, the clothing donation arm of Diabetes Canada, is marking its 40th anniversary with a special nationwide donation drive on Saturday, May 31.
Since its founding in 1985 as a home pickup service in Vancouver, the program has grown into one of the country’s largest charitable textile recycling operations. Over the past four decades, it has raised over $200 million to support diabetes research, health programs, and camps for youth with Type 1 diabetes. To date, 30,000 children and teens have attended D-Camps thanks to the support generated by donations.
As part of the anniversary celebration, residents in Newmarket are invited to bring gently used clothing and small household items to RioCan Newmarket at Yonge Street and Sawmill Valley Drive between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. The drive is an opportunity to help the environment and support people living with diabetes.
“We’re proud of the incredible impact this program has had in directly supporting Canadians affected by diabetes,” said Sean Shannon, CEO and president of the National Diabetes Trust. “This milestone reflects Canada’s generosity, our commitment to sustainability, and the hard work of our staff. Let’s make the next 40 years even more impactful.”
Donors who can’t attend the May 31 event are encouraged to schedule a home pickup or find one of the more than 3,500 donation bins now located across the country. The first bin was placed in Alberta in 1999.
In addition to funding diabetes initiatives, the program has diverted more than three billion pounds of textiles and small items from landfills—enough to fill Toronto’s Rogers Centre six times.
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