Students of Peter Skene Ogden Secondary School were out and about on Jan. 4 collecting bottles.
The 2025 PSO Bottle Drive saw students collect used bottles from residents of the South Cariboo. Two collection stations were set up: one at the Lone Butte Fire Hall, and another at the South Cariboo Rec Centre. In addition, students had been driving around the 108 Mile Ranch, 105 Mile House and 103 Mile House areas collecting bottles. The drive will help pay for the 2025 Dry Grad, which is set to take place in June.
"It includes commencement down at the park, all the bits and bobs, our prizes, our food and all that we're raising up for the 2025 class," said Vanessa Alexander, the vice president of the 2025 PSO Dry Grad committee. Overall, they raised around $1,768.24 from the bottle drive.
Alexander says that around five or six trucks full of bottles were dropped off at the South Cariboo Rec Centre drop-off location by the public, while the grads brought "at least two, three loads themselves." The 100 Mile Curling Club also helped out by donating several bags as well.
"Probably about eight or nine bags," Alexander said. "They did a fantastic drop-off for us. They saved us a bunch of bottles for us to donate."
After the drive, the bottles were sent to Goldtrail Recycling for a final recount.
"They end up doing a bit of a recount, but we get it organized, and then they give us the money to put it towards our program," Alexander explained.
As for Alexander, she says that it was fantastic doing the event.
"I've been doing events like this since I was a kid, and it's always a great way of getting everyone together and getting kids hands-on and learning what this all takes," Alexander remarked.
This will not be the only bottle drive that will be aimed to benefit graduating students of PSO this year - a spring bottle drive is planned, however, a date has yet to be announced.
