Taylor Garbage once again fighting back against breast cancer

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and for the second year in a row, Taylor Garbage has joined forces with a local man with a personal reason to fight against the disease. 

An Owego couple was handed a life-altering diagnosis last year when Jocelyn Kline was informed she had breast cancer. Traci’s Hope, a local non-profit organization established to aid women who are suffering from breast cancer, stepped in to help Jocelyn and her husband, Ryan, during their time of need.  

Touched by the support of Traci’s Hope, Ryan was inspired to pay it forward, and the idea of ‘Kans for the Kure’ bottle drive was born. He reached out to Taylor Garbage, who eagerly agreed to help and graciously provided pink Taylor Garbage cans, complete with awareness ribbons, for the occasion. 

Taylor Garbage is happy to present Kans for the Kure again this year, and has set a goal to collect 100,000 bottles and cans during the month of October.

“We’re happy to once again partner with the Kline family to fundraise for Traci’s Hope. It’s a cause that’s close to their hearts, and the hearts of all of us here at Taylor Garbage,” Bob Taylor, president of Taylor Garbage, said. “We sincerely hope our community will get involved with ‘Kans for the Kure’, and that these pink garbage cans will capture attention and awareness for this disease that affects one in eight women.”

In addition to the bottles and cans collected by Taylor Garbage, Kline and other volunteers intend to walk the streets of Broome and Tioga counties throughout the month collecting cans and bottles inside the pink garbage cans. Donations of cans and bottles can be dropped off at Taylor Garbage locations, as well as Shelly’s Redemption Center in Tioga Center. 

The owner of the Redemption Center, Shelly Noe Forrest, commented, “We’ve collected over 14,000 cans so far this month,” and explained that the overall goal is 100,000.

Forrest also remarked that every can helps, and that any amount of cans is appreciated. For additional information or to arrange a pick-up through Shelly’s Redemption Center, call Shelly at (607) 972-5398.   

JoAnn R. Walter contributed to this story.