Order of the Eastern Star members in Williams Lake have been collecting pull-tabs to raise money for many years.
Last year $437 from their efforts went to BC and Alberta Guide Dogs, said member Marg Bublitz.
They sell the pull-tabs to Williams Lake Scrap Recycling (WLSR) where Brendan Schmidt, one of the owners of WLSR, said the going rate is 55 cents for one pound of clean aluminum.
Because the OES was sending the money to charity, Schmidt topped up the amount with a donation of his own last year.
So far this year, the OES have amassed four 20-litre pails and five boxes filled with pull-tabs.
Helping them was Cory Sulin, said Bublitz, adding she picked them up from Sulin at Williams Lake Association for Community Living.
"We will be taking the pull-tabs into recycling in mid-May," she explained. "We have our convention in Prince George in May and will bring a cheque there for it to be forwarded to BC & Alberta Guide Dogs."
BC & Alberta Guide Dogs provides the dogs at no charge. They professionally train Guide Dogs, Autism Service Dogs, and OSI-PTSD Service Dogs for citizens of British Columbia and Alberta.
With autism in her own family, Bublitz said she sees how valuable the dogs can be.
In the past Williams Lake and Quesnel OES chapters have enjoyed a friendly rivalry.
"Last year Quesnel challenged me to beat them, and you know me, I like a challenge. They did beat us by 20 pounds last year, but it all goes to a good cause."
There was no challenge this year, she added.
OES in Williams Lake also donates to cancer, Bublitz said, adding often she arrives at her Fourth Avenue North home to discover people have dropped of bags and jars of pull-tabs.
Schmidt said the OES are the only people recycling pull-tabs at his facility.
