Banned bottles

If you've been to an airport in the past eight years, you're probably aware of the tight restrictions on what types of items you're allowed to bring onto the plane in your carry-on baggage. Maybe you've even experienced the inconvenience and mild embarrassment of having the contents of your makeup case searched and confiscated by security personnel.

Well, this past weekend, I was interested to discover that in Edmonton, most of those confiscated bottles of shampoo, suntan lotion, moisturizer and various beverages find their way to local people in need thanks to the Leduc and District Food Bank Association.

I rode along with food bank volunteer Gerry Hamilton on one of his daily trips to the Edmonton International Airport to collect all the items that never make it onto the plane. In addition to being shocked and enlightened, I also scored a free (gently used) water bottle:


It's a huge relief to know that a lot of this stuff is going to a new home or being recycled instead of clogging up a landfill, and as I found out, the need in our community is great in these trying economic times. Read more about it in the March 6 Rep.