recycling soda bottles for a shut-in

debodun

debodun

SF VIP
Location
way upstate in New York, USA
A woman that I deliver meals-on-wheels to doesn't go out and orders her groceries delivered from a store 20 miles away because she doesn't like the local supermarket for some reason. She also likes soda and drinks a brand that local store doesn't carry. She been after me to take her bottles back so she can get the deposit on them. Our local store won't accept bottles of a brand they don't sell. I'd like to help her, but am reticent about making a 40 mile round trip just to get a buck's worth of bottle deposits for her (added to the fact that my meals job doesn't require this service - it would just be doing it as a favor). Any suggestions?
 

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I would not do it. I do save my soda cans for a lady I used to work with. I have saved them for her for around 15 years. When I get a large garbage bag full I call her and she drops by to get them. She is a single mother with a son now in college and has a tough time making ends meet.We get a chance to visit and catch up with each other. Its one of the ways she makes extra money. I don't mind saving them for her.
 
I understand your hesitation. Just wonder if the place that delivers her groceries would take back the empties and credit her next order? Are there any of those nickleback places, that take in deposit bottles and give you the cash? Not saying YOU need to do it, but maybe she has a neighborhood kid or family member willing to do it for her?
 

Aunt Bea said:
I would give the poor woman a dollar for her bottles and stick them in the nearest recycling bin on my way home.
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That's just what I was thinking too, Aunt Bea. I wouldn't make a 40 mile round trip -- probably cost you more in gas than the refund. Deb, I doubt it's a good idea to be doing personal errands for your meals on wheels patrons. It might even be against meals on wheels' rules. I think it's an imposition by this lady to ask you to do this for her. You're the meals on wheels lady, not her personal assistant. Would she ask a plumber to do this for her? Probably not, and she shouldn't ask it of you, either.
 
Another thing to consider is, if you do this for her, she might be asking you for more favors later on. Some people are this way. The more you do for them, the more they want.
 
Butterfly said:
I doubt it's a good idea to be doing personal errands for your meals on wheels patrons.
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This isn't the only time people have asked me to do things beyond my duty as a meal deliverer. Other times clients have asked me to mail letters or get their mail. I can see a HUGE problem with that. Later they could say I stole their mail or failed to mail letters. Soda bottles just seemed so innocent, though.
 
I agree with the others Deb, just say 'no, sorry I can't do that' and put an end to the requests.
 

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