Have you seen those Pop Tabs Collection Boxes for Ronald McDonald Houses?
I used to wonder, “How can those little pop tabs actually help children with cancer?”
…until I watched my inspiring colleague, Dori Gilbert, collect the tabs with her students. Dori happened to be my daughter, Tiffany’s kindergarten and first grade teacher. When Tiffany was in kindergarten, Dori encouraged her students to collect the pop tabs from the tops of their aluminum cans.
Simple enough for a kindergartner to do.
The Kindergarten/1st Grade Collection of Pop-tops
Watching people swallow their last bit of soda, Tiffany would chime, “I need your pop-top.” (Her friends called them “pop-tops.”) At the grocery store, she’d hunt for other items with pop tabs. Then, she’d request we purchase those soups and dog foods so she could save even more.
In that way, she built her little collection. Then, she counted each one, slid them into a plastic bag, and delivered them to school.
One day when she carried her collection into class, I followed her and watched.
- A three-foot-tall wooden house awaited her classmates’ contributions. A voluminous pile of tabs peeked from the depths.
- But first, the children deposited their pop tabs at their class meeting area.
- You see, Dori made the counting of pop tabs a part of their classroom routine.
When it was time to count tabs, they checked their last tally.
- Five-hundred and eighty-three, they chanted.
- Then they counted on. Five hundred and eighty-four, five hundred and eighty-five, five hundred and eighty-six…
- After they counted the new contributions, they worked together to decide how to write the number. “What does six hundred and seven look like anyway?”
- They composed the grand total neatly in an important place… until it came time to continue counting the following week.
At the end of their two years together, Dori arranged to drop by the Ronald McDonald House and leave the pop tabs. And the following year? Dori would start collecting—again—with her new loop of K/1 students.
Our Combined Efforts in Subsequent Years
After watching how much math, science, and empathy Tiffany experienced, I happily joined Dori in this project and encouraged my students to collect pop tabs of their own. Over the years, Dori and I took our classes to the Ronald McDonald room at the Prisma Health Children’s Hospital in Columbia, South Carolina. The children entered the sliding front doors, hoisting buckets of pop tabs. The greeters always exclaimed in surprise at the brilliance of the children who collected so many tabs. The ladies at the children’s hospital recognized us, called us by name, and chatted. We squeezed into the Ronald McDonald room and snapped a quick photo to document our journey.
Several times, our bus drivers swung into the parking lot of the Ronald McDonald House Charity of Columbia, South Carolina on our return trip. “Look! There it is—the Ronald McDonald House!” Once, we even visited inside the Ronald McDonald House, oohing and ahhing over this special home we had talked about for two whole years. (Since we worried about bringing germs into this special home for children, we typically visited the hospital instead.)
One of My Own
One day when I was visiting the Children’s Hospital, I crossed paths with one of my precious families. They had just received the news that their three-year-old had cancer. One of the most traumatic things I can ever imagine—and God allowed me to be present, give a hug, promise continued prayers, and hand over powerful Bible verses on post-it notes.
Several years later, I became that child’s kindergarten and first grade teacher. Those pop tabs definitely took on new meaning. (By the way, that amazing fellow just graduated from high school and is headed off to college in the fall.)
Authentic Math and Science Experiences
Too many things fill teaching times each day. One might wonder… Is there value in counting piles of pop tabs one by one?
There’s just something about the value of using a simple pop tab collection to accentuate
- a growing understanding of numbers,
- one-to-one correspondence as you count,
- discerning a pattern in counting bigger numbers,
- and figuring out how to write them.
- Honestly, I can’t remember if Dori ended up counting ALL the tabs!?! I know she continued with incredibly-authentic math experiences that enabled my child to grow immensely as a mathematician though.
Of course, there’s the science and economics behind the tabs, too. Children can:
- Research what is valuable about the pop tabs (as opposed to the whole can.)
- Search how many pounds of pop tabs equate to dollars.
- Measure the pop tabs in different ways. If counting individual pop tabs isn’t for you, check out this newsclip from Charlotte, North Carolina, recently about a special little girl’s family who weighs their contributions. You might be surprised to see how their contributions have grown in just a few years!
A Picture Book That Will Change Your Children’s Lives—and Yours!
How delighted I was to discover this book sharing the story of a child whose family directly benefitted from a Ronald McDonald House and the charming dog who worked there. Kathi Appelt’s Mogie: The Heart of the House is a book that will change your children’s life, too. Many children begged to have it read and reread over the years.
The Power of the Visit
Don’t neglect to schedule a compelling visit to drop the tabs off at your local Ronald McDonald House. Your children might grasp the exponential growth of pop tabs from seeing others’ collections. Talks could then surround the thousands of dollars given to a home that, in turn, invests in children and families.
If You’re Interested in Volunteering…
Here’s an informational video created by another Carolinas Ronald McDonald House with a child narrating the impact of their pop tab collection.
If you’d like to assist in this incredible mission, reach out to your closest Ronald McDonald House. Click here to search for the closest ones to your location. They will probably have an abundance of other opportunities where you might help. (Possibilities include donations of toys, games, snacks, healthy foods, perhaps even refurbishing parts of the home.)
Who knew what you could learn from a kindergartner?
I’m so thankful for Tiffany’s teacher who showed us that little people could do such amazing things.
I know I’ve never looked at a pop tab the same since.
If you’d like to read about other unforgettable service learning projects that younger kids have done, check this post out.
*Disclaimer: To the best of my memory, these stories happened just as I wrote. I’m recalling them through my journals, notes, and photos – but, through my 25-year-old perspective. If there are any errors, the fault is mine. My sincerest apologies.
**Have you ever collected pop tabs – or volunteered similarly? Please share other charities you’ve worked with. Who knows what new excursions your memories might inspire for other families?
That’s wonderful, Jennifer! My teen is on fire for service! She joined Soul in the City for a week-long service program this summer and last, and then got me to go along some this week to help out a fabulous non-profit in Jax Fl that serves children with refugee/immigrant needs. Kim’s Open Door provides summer immersive ESOL (English for speakers of other languages) AND fun and food for the kids. They also do after-school activities all year. We’re loving the opportunity to love and serve!
What a wonderful-sounding experience for you both! When we find service opportunities that transform whole families, we know we’re doing some powerful things. And repeatedly! Thank you so much for sharing, Joan! 🩷
Hey Jennifer:)
How ironic that our sweet Jordan Barber, who is the youth minister at our church, St. David’s Episcopal, has made Ronald McDonalds pop tops one of her personal missions for many years now . I have been a faithful donor and consider this to be one of my most heartfelt missions as a Pediatric nurse practitioner. It absolutely reaffirms my belief that God connects us in the most beautiful and mysterious ways! Thank you for always being a beacon of light and a true inspiration to all who are blessed to know you as the Barber family has since way back at Spring Valley Baptist preschool ❤️
Holly
Ah, Holly! THAT is precious! Of course, she’s committed to our God and some of the missions we care deeply about. I LOVE that she’s so involved with the pop tabs, too, through her ministry! And I’m not surprised at all that you’re involved with it as well. 🩷 Yes, God does continue to reconnect us – again and again – in such special ways. It’s amazing that we’ve been connected for … 30 years?!? I’m truly grateful for your whole family’s touch on my life, too, Holly. What a blessing! (I know you’ll share this with Jordan. Please give her my love!)
What wonderful thing it is to instill a passion for serving others into the lives of our little people! Good teachers teach children numbers and words. Great teachers encourage them to look outside themselves to use what they know in ways that help those in need. Thanks for this encouraging post, Jennifer!
Frances, I know you know the amazing colleagues I’ve been surrounded by. I’m grateful to have learned so much from each of them. And I loved seeing how to integrate math, science, and reading into the authentic projects we approached. There’s nothing like seeing little kids invested in powerful projects – and including their families! Thank you for your kind words!