RADAR | THE LOCALER
A Mission to Give Back: Filling the Bin
How Quinn Harley transformed a simple birthday wish into a lasting movement of community support.
By Will Scott
When grade schooler Quinn Harley decided to collect food donations in support of Community Care of St. Catharines and Thorold, he harnessed the power of rhyme. “‘Fill The Bin For Quinn’ started in 2021 during COVID,” Harley says of his annual fundraiser. “I decided for my ninth birthday I wanted to have a food drive and instead of gifts, ask for donations to help families in need.”
“The junior ambassador program showed me that even though I was young, I could still make a difference. Helping people and giving back became something I really enjoyed.”
That year, he raised more than $1,000. Harley is now 14 and for the last eight years has been a junior ambassador for Community Care, which offers food security, housing help, health and family support. “The junior ambassador program showed me that even though I was young, I could still make a difference. Helping people and giving back became something I really enjoyed.” In 2025, Harley received the Margaret and Robin MacLennan Youth Volunteer of the Year Award in St. Catharines. “That was a really special moment and meant a lot to me — proof that little things can make a big difference.” Rest assured, in 2027, Harley will still be filling the bin.
Do you know someone who goes above and beyond? We’d love to hear about them. Email us your nominations and they could be our featured Localer in an upcoming issue.
Harley Quinn is a junior ambassador for Community Care. | PHOTO: COURTESY OF QUINN HARLEY
RADAR | PLAYLIST
What Songs Do You Road Trip to, Shub?
By Kim Hughes
The thought-provoking composer and performing artist, Shub. | PHOTO: COURTESY OF ALEX CRONIN
Indigenous Fort Erie composer and performing artist Shub has imagination to spare. Consider the one-time Tribe Called Red member’s kaleidoscopic thoughts on road trips and his playlist choices: “A road trip is the whole arc of being human in a single stretch of asphalt. You start with that chase energy, driving toward something you can’t name yet but know you need to get to. Then it settles into late-night reflection, just you and the road, no answers required. There’s a track that brings you back to where you come from while you’re still moving forward. Sunset. Traffic you somehow don’t mind. An empty road where you drive fast just to process what’s been sitting on you. City nights where anything could happen next. And at the end, something timeless. A song that reminds you the drive itself is part of something bigger than just getting somewhere.” Enough said.
We are providing a preview of the artist’s playlist. The full playlist can be experienced directly on Spotify with a free account. Songs may not be appropriate for everyone. Listener discretion is advised.
Related stories
Honouring Niagara-on-the-Lake’s Black History
What Songs Do You Road-Trip to, Serena Pryne?
What Songs Do You Road Trip To, Terra Lightfoot?
When grade schooler Quinn Harley decided to collect food donations in support of Community Care of St. Catharines and Thorold, he harnessed the power of rhyme. “‘Fill The Bin For Quinn’ started in 2021 during COVID,” Harley says of his annual fundraiser. “I decided for my ninth birthday I wanted to have a food drive and instead of gifts, ask for donations to help families in need.”
“The junior ambassador program showed me that even though I was young, I could still make a difference. Helping people and giving back became something I really enjoyed.”
That year, he raised more than $1,000. Harley is now 14 and for the last eight years has been a junior ambassador for Community Care, which offers food security, housing help, health and family support. “The junior ambassador program showed me that even though I was young, I could still make a difference. Helping people and giving back became something I really enjoyed.” In 2025, Harley received the Margaret and Robin MacLennan Youth Volunteer of the Year Award in St. Catharines. “That was a really special moment and meant a lot to me — proof that little things can make a big difference.” Rest assured, in 2027, Harley will still be filling the bin.
Do you know someone who goes above and beyond? We’d love to hear about them. Email us your nominations and they could be our featured Localer in an upcoming issue.