“Cans for Care” Campaign Update Center!

Summary of Campaign:

• Goal and Results (Round 1): Collect 20,000 Massachusetts 5-cent redeemable containers (metal cans, plastic bottles, glass bottles) to raise $1,000! Grand total after 1/10/2026 drop off event at VFW, 21,525 containers collected since mid-October 2025! Gross funds generated: $1,076 plus cash donation: $40 less consumables: $109 resulted in $1,007 net funds applied to the Nourish and Inform goals within our overarching “Building a Brighter 2025-2026 for Dedham Seniors” fundraising theme. Learn more here about this theme.

• Duration: Core campaign, 10/18 through 10/26/2025. Extended Run Campaign, 10/27 through 12/24/2025. Final Run campaign, 12/25/2025 through 1/10/2026 were all part of three-month Round 1.

• Collection Points:‍ ‍

  • Additional confirmed collection points, as of 4/18:

    • Round 2 is underway – We kicked off our second round on Saturday, 4/11, from 10:00 AM until 1:00 PM at our tent in the VFW parking lot, 84 Eastern Avenue. We received overwhelming response from the Dedham community, collecting and redeeming 7,700 containers. We were excited to partner with the Dedham Youth Commission and their student volunteers fulfilling community service commitments at this event.

    • Our next scheduled community collection is from 10 AM until 1 PM on Saturday, June 13th at the Dedham Town Hall Parking lot between the Town Hall and Public Safety buildings at the corner of Washington and Bryant Streets!

    • Check back here for other collection opportunities throughout 2026.

    • If you can’t bring cans (or glass or plastic bottles), then bring coins instead! A roll of 20 nickels represents the equivalent of twenty MA 5¢ deposit containers.

    • Don’t have any redeemable containers. Please consider a donation instead and still have an impact! Click button —> to learn how.

• Bulk pickup help available! Call 339.600.1986 for assistance or complete Pickup Request form by clicking on the button.

• Other Ways to Participate and Important Information:

  • Please note that MA 5-cent redeemable containers do not include plastic water bottles, juice containers, energy drinks, and most hard cider cans. These do not carry the MA deposit stamp or label! You may recycle these.

  • Special note to out-of-state travelers. Most redeemable cans for carbonated beverages consumed outside Massachusetts likely are universally stamped with the two-letter state abbreviation for all states including MA. Just toss these in a bag and come home with them to donate to our campaign. We’ll be glad that you did!

  • Collect containers in groups as a civic challenge from willing church groups, fraternal organizations, recreational clubs, eateries, bars and pubs, government departments, and others who may regularly discard these containers that can be converted into valuable donations for our seniors. We gladly take these with appreciation!

  • Special plastic bags for metal cans and plastic bottles and cardboard boxes for glass bottle accepted by our redemption partner are available for a nominal charge of $1 per bag or box each. We will have these available for your convenience at all collection venues.

  • Anyone is welcome to transport their own collection of separated containers directly to our redemption partner, Mansfield Redemption Center, 75 Forbes Blvd., Mansfield MA. They are open Monday through Saturday from 8 AM until 3 PM and are closed on Sundays and MA state holidays. Be sure to notify the Redemption Center when you arrive to credit the Friends of the Dedham Council on Aging, Inc. account! Acceptable containers include the special clear plastic bags and cardboard boxes mentioned above and any cardboard boxes that original glass bottles are sold in such as 4-packs and 6-packs and 15, 18, 24, and 28 cardboard cartons. Loose containers, mixed container types, and non-conforming packaging such as black plastic bags will not be accepted!

  • We will pick up bulk quantities (many 100s or more) of redeemable containers at your location. These do not have to be sorted, but be careful about mixing glass with other types in plastic bags! Contact us below to make special arrangements.

• How to Reach Us with Questions or for special Collections:

  • Cans for Care Can-do Team — by email, cansforcare@fdcoainc.org or by phone, 339.600.1986 and leave a message. Alternately, click on the Contact tab and leave us a message. We will get back to you promptly!

• THANK YOU FOR STANDING WITH DEDHAM SENIORS!