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TES students eagerly take on charity challenge

By Elvyn Jones - | Sep 20, 2011

Tonganoxie Elementary School students were recruited Friday to help those their age stricken with serious illnesses.

Judging from their history and their response, they are excited to get started.

At an all-school assembly Friday, the students were asked once again to collect aluminum can pull tabs as a fundraiser for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kansas City. Alan Lubert, community relations spokesman for the charity, told the students Ronald McDonald Houses throughout the country offer temporary lodging for young patients and families who have to travel from smaller outlying towns such as Tonganoxie to get treatment in larger metropolitan medical centers.

To help with the cost of that effort, Lubert asked that TES students once again collect the pull tabs for recycling.

Last year, the school collected 12 boxes for the drive. TES Principal Tammie George challenged the students to better that effort this school year with 15 boxes.

Judging from their deafening shrieks of approval at George’s challenge, it would appear the students are motivated to improve on last year.

The pull tabs do add up to cash, Lubert said. So far this year, the charity has raised more than $22,000 from recycling pull tabs.

It’s an effort that involves thousands and thousands of students, Lubert said. He said there were about 170 schools involved in the Kansas City area.

But the effort serves another purpose, Lubert said.

“Almost every day we have kids come to the Ronald McDonald House to serve meals, make dinner or other volunteer activity,” he said. “They usually started with the pop tabs. It’s a great way to teach kids about community service.

“It’s a fundraiser, but it’s also a friend finder.”