If you're wrapping a new set of power tools to go under the tree this Christmas, be sure to make space for them in the garage - and support community building projects around the world - by donating your old hammers and saws to a "tool drive" this week.
KMS Tools in Coquitlam is collecting Tools for the World, an initiative it started to help Cubans rebuild after natural disaster and which has now grown to a project that distributes donated tools to places like Uganda and Haiti.
"It just felt like a good thing to do, and we wanted to get involved to help people," said Lori Pridham of KMS Tools.
Since they started the project in October 2010 KMS has sent about six palettes of tools each month.
Tools donated to KMS stores throughout B.C. and Alberta now get shipped to their Victoria location, where it gets picked up by Compassionate Resource Warehouse, an organization that ships material resources to developing countries around the world.
Pridham said it's difficult to estimate just how many tools they've shipped to communities working to repair and build hospitals, clinics, churches and schools because the palettes have contained tools of all shapes and sizes, including items donated by the tool chain's suppliers and the stores themselves.
"It's good to keep in mind that not all the places the tools are shipped to have power," Pridham said. "They may be old tools in our society that we would consider worthless, but they're actually quite handy in other places."
To donate tools, drop KMS Tools at 110 Woolridge St. in Coquitlam or make a financial donation (with a free smokie and pop) during the store's sale Dec. 15 to 17. Donations go to the cost of shipping.
Visit www.kmstools.com for more information.
