On Friday, June 5, The Illustrious Potentate and Nobles of Salaam Shriners visited Thomas Jefferson Middle School to collect soda can tabs donated by 54 students in grades 4–8 who chose to participate in the collection effort throughout the year.
The Shriners collect soda can tabs and recycle them to generate funds for Shriners Hospitals for Children. The tabs are sold in bulk to scrap metal dealers, and the proceeds help finance free patient transportation, medical equipment, and non-medical items, such as books and crafts, for children receiving care.
The Thomas Jefferson Middel School collection began five years ago when Ms. Ellen Secallus mentioned to student Brayden Cron that her husband was a Shriner who collected can tabs. Inspired by the idea, Brayden began collecting tabs and bringing them to Ms. Ellen during his lunch periods. When Ms. Secallus also mentioned the initiative to Mrs. Dobbs, she began collecting tabs from her students and family as well.
This year marks the school’s largest collection to date, as Thomas Jefferson Middel School was able to donate seven containers of tabs to the Shriners. In recognition of the school’s efforts, the Shriners presented plaques to 8th Grader Braydon Cron, Thomas Jefferson Middle School, Mrs. Dobbs, and Mrs. Zangara, who recently began donating tabs collected through the weekly Friday coffee cart run by her students.
In addition to the plaques, each participating student received a certificate thanking them for their donation, as well as a fold-up fan/frisbee Thomas Jefferson Middel School hopes this tradition of collecting and donating can tabs will continue for many years to come.”
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