PIE students collect tabs from across the country
Pine Island Elementary students have been collecting “tabs” for the Ronald McDonald Charities for over four years. Each year I am amazed with the amount of can tabs that are collected.
Pine Island Elementary began collecting TABS in 2008. My oldest daughter, Chrissy, a former Pine Island Elementary student, stayed at the Ronald McDonald House in Tampa. In 2007 my daughter, Chrissy was diagnosed with GBM brain cancer. During her first surgery, we stayed at the Ronald McDonald House. It was amazing. We were treated like family. It was nice to “share” stories and make new friends.
When we came home, Chrissy decided that we needed to collect tabs. We started off with our church family and spread the word from there.
Every year, the students at Pine Island Elementary bring in tabs. Some students bring in a few, some a handful, others by the baggie full. Some of the teachers collect the tabs in a recycle bin in my room. The bin holds 50 pounds of tabs. We have filled the bin once and almost have it filled to the top again.
The tabs are delivered to Ronald McDonald House, near HealthPark Hospital. The tabs are used to defray the cost of staying there, purchase supplies and equipment, and help pay for various other needs.
This year, we had two outstanding students, who went above and beyond! Kaleb Smith, who is in second grade, went to visit his Grandpa Dave in Millersburg, Ohio, and returned with two trunks full of tabs. His grandpa is a chaplin for a group of nursing homes. At each home, he has a collection cup for the tabs along with a sheet explaining what the tabs are used for. He also collects tabs from the trash and recycle bins.
When he heard Chrissy’s story he began spreading the “news.” His sister Jan, in Detroit, Mich., now collects tabs and sends them to Caleb. This year Caleb came back with over 20 pounds of tabs..
David Tippins, a fifth grader, has been saving his tabs over a year. He came in with over 15 pounds of tabs in a big green garbage bag! David collects his tabsall over. He looks in the woods, recycle bins, cans on the side of the road…
Pine Island is truly a community that shares and cares, and it begins with the Students at Pine Island Elementary.
Cathy Frahm is a “K” Teacher at Pine Island Elementary.