PEI·NewThis summer, 15-year-old Max Yin-Du didn’t want the days to slip by without doing something meaningful, so he decided to spend the break giving back to his Island community.Max Yin-Du ‘just wanted to make use of my summer instead of just wasting away’Thinh Nguyen · CBC News · Posted: Aug 16, 2025 5:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 32 minutes agoMax Yin-Du is organizing the Charlottetown Health Drive to collect health and hygiene products for people in need on P.E.I. (Thinh Nguyen/CBC)This summer, 15-year-old Max Yin-Du didn’t want the days to just slip by, so he decided to do something meaningful and give back to his Prince Edward Island community.The Colonel Gray High School student considered several ideas before landing on one. He organized the Charlottetown Health Drive, a campaign encouraging Islanders to donate health and hygiene products for people in need.”I figured health is a really important thing, and I just really wanted to help out people that were struggling,” Yin-Du told CBC’s Island Morning.Island Morning15-year-old collecting health and hygiene products in CharlottetownYou might see some donation bins around Charlottetown requesting health and hygiene products this summer. They’re part of a project called the Charlottetown Health Drive, led by 15-year-old Max Yin-Du, for Islanders in need.Donation bins have been set up at four downtown locations: Trinity United Church, The Humble Barber, Timothy’s World Coffee and Holy Redeemer Church.The project began late last month and will accept donations until Aug. 26.Yin-Du, who’s going into Grade 11, said he’s also considering restarting the drive during the school year when more of his friends could help support the effort. Helping with the basicsThe drive is aimed at collecting basic health essentials, like toothbrushes, deodorant, sunscreen, wipes and bandages — things many people take for granted, Yin-Du said.”It’s not always accessible for people that are struggling financially,” he said.When the campaign wraps up, he plans to deliver the supplies to food banks and other local groups on P.E.I., or possibly package them into kits.To get started, Yin-Du reached out to Island organizations and businesses with high foot traffic to ask if they could host donation bins.Donation bins for the Charlottetown Health Drive are set up at four downtown locations, including this one at The Humble Barber on Kent Street. (Thinh Nguyen/CBC)He also spent part of his summer going door to door downtown to see if property owners were willing to help.”People responded positively,” he said. “A lot of people had to say no, because, you know, sometimes they don’t have enough space. But I did eventually… find places to put them.”He’s also had help from his family and friends, who assisted with setting up bins and putting up posters around town.One thing he’s learned is that organization and planning are key. Walking into a business with a good message doesn’t always guarantee support.”I think the biggest lesson was probably, maybe I could have planned a little bit earlier just to get everything more organized.”Yin-Du hopes the project not only raises awareness about health access, but also inspires other teens to take on community projects.”During the summer, I guess most people could be playing video games and stuff, but I just wanted to make use of my summer instead of just wasting away.”Those interested in learning more can visit The Charlottetown Health Drive on Facebook.With files from Island Morning
Teen launches summer drive collecting health essentials for Islanders in need
