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Last year, students collected more than 150,000 soda can tabs that were shipped to Thailand to be made into artificial limbs, couplings, joints and canes for some of the country’s oldest residents.
This year, the Mount Vernon Ambassadors – a group of well-intentioned students, teachers and administrators with charitable goals - are attempting to collect one million tabs that can be recycled to benefit the Ronald McDonald House.
According to a statement from the Ronald McDonald House, “tabs have significant value in the recycling industry, representing the purest form of desirable metal for those who recycle. Additionally, these small tabs provide a tremendous source of charitable revenue for the Ronald McDonald House.”
Containers have been distributed to classrooms throughout the district for students to collect tabs from soda cans, soups and other aluminum containers. Parents can drop off tabs to Longfellow Elementary School through Tuesday, June 2. The school with the highest number of tabs collected will earn a $250 prize – which was awarded to Columbus Elementary School last year after students collected 41,422 tabs for Thailand.
Mount Vernon schools officials noted the aluminum that is donated is taken to a local recycling station where it is weighted and cashed in by the pound. There are approximately 800 tabs per pound. If the Ambassadors collect one million, the Ronald McDonald House stands to receive a donation of more than $1,000.
“The money is used to assist the House with operational expenses such as household supplies and utilities," according to a statement from the Ronald McDonald House. "The fee is waived for those families in need of financial support. All of the collections do add up to make a heartfelt impact in working together to provide shelter and comfort to families during the medical treatment of their children.”
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