THUNDER BAY -- A local business is turning tonnes scrap metal into a charitable donation.
Dutchak Recycle Inc. on Saturday officially made a donation of $10,000, one cent for every 10 pounds of steel collected this past year, towards the Northern Hearts Foundation.
Lori Dutchak, one of the owners of Dutchak, said Northern Hearts is a cause that has personal significance.
“It’s close to my heart because I’ve lost both my parents to heart disease. I think it’s a great thing and we really wanted to give back to the community,” she said.
Dr. Christopher Lai, a cardiologist and past president of the Northern Hearts Foundation, said the funds will be used towards their campaign to purchase a cell sorter.
The machine works in much the same ways as a coin sorter, which separates different kinds and calculates the quantity.
“If a scientist has a whole bunch of cells in a test tube they will be able to tell what kinds of cells they have and whether the experiment or theory is correct,” Lai said.
Lai added a cell sorter costs close to $300,000 and the foundation is hopeful they will have raised enough funds by the end of next year.
This weekend the business is loading up a barge with the 10 million pounds of scrap steel, which will be sent to Sault Ste. Marie.
Dutchak said they hope to hold the campaign again in future years.
