Save Pull Tabs For Ronald McDonald’s House

(submitted photo)
I believe in recycling things like paper from the copier at work (in secure shred of course), taking newspapers to the church or school collection box, and pull tabs from cans.

The World of Words by Elias Tobias officially endorses this last effort. Over a year ago, when I was teaching college part-time, there was a collection box for pull tabs for the Ronald McDonald house on a table in the snack room next to the soda machine. I began putting soft drink tabs in an old glass Ball jar and eventually when it got full, I  took the tabs in a plastic bag to work for the collection box. Other jobs have come and gone since then, but I still collect the tabs.  Kids can collect them on string or large key rings.  This can a fun activity for everyone, and simple, too.

Unlike the urban legend states, pop tabs do not support medical treatment of any kind including chemotherapy or dialysis; however, pop tabs do support the operations of Ronald McDonald Houses across the country. This popular fundraiser benefits seriously ill children by helping provide a place for them and their families to stay while they are out of town for medical treatment.

Recycling the tabs generates proceeds to donate to a local Ronald McDonald House. The tabs do not pay for treatment or night stays – only house operations. One house that collected enough pop tabs in a year to put $8,000 toward operational costs.

Pop tabs are small and convenient to collect. Hundreds of thousands of pop tabs have been collected to benefit Ronald McDonald Houses.  Did you know that:
1 pop tab is approximately 1 inch long
1,267 pop tabs make 1 pound
1 pound of aluminum can be sold for approximately 40¢

For more information about how you can help, click here.

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