MONCTON – A Moncton man who saw a need in his community is taking it upon himself to help others.

Charlie Burrell has been gathering cans and bottles and asking others to donate their recyclables to help seniors in need for a charity he’s started called The Humanity Project.

“Basically it’s getting people to turn in their garbage or extra recyclables to get some money together, and then we are going to go out and do some shopping and buy some food for seniors in need,” he says as he checks on his latest haul. “Or, if they are having a hard time purchasing their medication, then we can help them purchase their medication as well.”

It all started back in January. Burrell says the charity was started out of guilt that quickly turned to giving.

“It actually started right outside this bottle exchange when it was minus-35 andIi was driving by, and I saw a homeless gentleman walking with no hat or mittens pushing a cart,” he said. “I drive by him and I thought I should help him, but I didn’t and I felt bad.”

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Burrell says after that, he went home and got on Facebook asking for donations of food and warm clothing to help the homeless. The response was overwhelming.

“We ended up building 31 bags and going out and giving them to the homeless on the streets,” he said.

He documented the effort in a home video, which was posted to The Humanity Project’s Facebook page.

Burrell says the experience was life-changing. He has since registered The Humanity Project as a formal charity and says 100 per cent of all donations, including the money from donated bottles and cans, goes directly to people in need.