With every empty beer can, water bottle and juice box he collects, Hank Brennan is making a difference in the lives of those who need it the most.
Brennan, affectionately known as 鈥淪anta Hank鈥� in his community, spends 20 hours a week gathering and sorting cans and bottles to recycle in North Vancouver. Local businesses and residents donate the recyclables to Brennan鈥檚 charitable initiative called .
鈥淲ith the money, I convert that into gift cards from the local coffee shops and food chain stores, and pass them out to the homeless and needy families,鈥� Brennan told CTV Vancouver on Sunday.
Brennan said each bottle or can is worth either a nickel or a dime. Although it may seem like petty pocket change to some, all of those coins eventually add up. Brennan said he usually raises $1,500 to $2,000 each month.
On Sunday, Santa Hank hit the streets to hand out Christmas stockings filled with little gifts and Tim Hortons gift cards to a group of homeless men in the city.
鈥淭hat card to them is like handing them a little pot of gold,鈥� Brennan said. 鈥淚t's not a lot of money but it's going to put something in their stomach.鈥�
One of the men who received a stocking and gift card on Sunday told CTV Vancouver that he was grateful for Brennan鈥檚 work.
鈥淚t鈥檚 very charitable,鈥� the man said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 a good man for what he does. God bless him.鈥�
Brennan has been collecting bottles and cans and donating the proceeds to the needy for nine years. It鈥檚 not just a seasonal effort either; he does this work all year long.
鈥淏asically all they鈥檙e living on is hope, to get to the next day,鈥� Brennan said. 鈥淚 get a lot out of this. It鈥檚 pretty simple. Helping people just makes me feel good. I don鈥檛 need anything more than that.鈥�
Despite the joy it brings him, the charitable work is not always easy for him. Brennan broke down in tears when he tried to recount some of the stories he has heard from those he鈥檚 helped over the years.
鈥淚 can鈥檛 do it,鈥� Brennan said his voice cracking. 鈥淚t鈥檚 too hard. It鈥檚 too hard.鈥�
To learn more about Brennan鈥檚 fundraiser, you can visit his website .
With a report from CTV Vancouver鈥檚 Michele Brunoro
