Stand Up for Sure We Can

Canners, or the folks who collect bottles and cans to earn income 5-cents at a time, are some of New York’s most essential yet most marginalized workers. The canners who visit Sure We Can’s redemption center in Brooklyn depend on our unique approach to service, which goes beyond just giving cash to cultivating dignity, respect, and empowerment. Today, Sure We Can’s supportive model is facing unprecedented cultural and logistical headwinds beyond our control.

With no update to the Bottle Bill in 16 years, the basis for the system Sure We Can and canners work under, redemption revenue for Sure We Can is at an all-time low relative to the cost of living and running a business. At the same time, foundations intimidated by the rising tide of cruel and reactionary politics are backing away from progressive causes. We have already lost one major funder due to this trend. These challenges put the continuity of Sure We Can’s programming at risk, threatening our ability to provide stable service to a community facing significant challenges and instability right now. In order to continue offering our special style of service to canners that can’t receive this kind of support anywhere else, we need our allies to stand up and fill the gaps that fearful institutions are creating through their inaction. That’s why we’re reaching out to you with a heartfelt request to donate, and help us raise $30,000 before the end of the year in order to maintain our redemption service and programming at its current level into 2026 and beyond!