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Woman collects pop tabs to help combat cancer |
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Friday, 06 June 2008 |
By MARY BARGDILL
Staff Writer
FORT LORAMIE — An area resident says she hopes to collect scores of aluminum cans tabs to help those in need.
Fort Loramie resident Mary Jane Broerman has made it her mission to collect as many aluminum can tabs as possible to support an organization that aided her in her time of need. She has gathered and donated millions of tabs to the Ronald McDonald House in Dayton, which provides housing to family members of hospitalized children.
To date, she has accumulated more than 6.3 million tabs and raised $22,400 an effort to support the house that provided her a place to stay when her daughter was ill.
"That's just my way of giving back to Ronald McDonald House," Broerman said. "It's just one of those things that's close to my heart."
Broerman began collecting tabs when her daughter Kimberly, who was born premature at 26 weeks, was hospitalized at the Children's Hospital in Dayton. Broerman stayed at the nearby Ronald McDonald House in Dayton and began counting tabs as a way to stay busy.
On Aug. 26, 2006, Kimberly passed away from toxic shock syndrome, when she was just 11 years old.
"I still would like to keep them (tabs) in memory of my daughter, but also because other children's parents might need the Ronald McDonald House," Broerman said.
This year, 3.03 million tabs, or 2,210 pounds, were collected for a value of $1,500. From April 21, 2007, to May 2, 2008, Broerman collected 1.5 million tabs from McDonalds restaurants located in Celina, St. Marys, Delphos, Minster, Wapakoneta and Sidney. She also collected tabs from local bowling alleys, Varsity Lanes of St. Marys and Community Lanes in Minster.
Fraternal organizations such as the Eagles Lodge in St. Marys and Versailles offered tabs, as did the American Legion Posts in Fort Loramie and Versailles.
Celina East Elementary School also lent support by collecting 1.5 million tabs. Broerman raised another $1,400 through an annual raffle supported by merchants in the Fort Loramie area.
Broerman said Fort Loramie residents have been supportive of her efforts.
"Whenever I take a walk, I hear a neighbor say, 'Hey, Mary, I've got a bag of tabs for you,'" she said.
Fort Loramie resident Harry Frilling stored the tabs in his barn and Ed Luthman and is son, Troy, transported them to the Tab Fest that was held in Dayton May 3. Broerman said she appreciated their efforts in helping her support the Ronald McDonald House.
Since May 3, Broerman has collected another 623,000 tabs. She said it is a fundraiser she enjoys.
"I enjoy doing that — I sit back and collect the tabs," Broerman said.
For her efforts, Broerman was named the winner of the largest amount of tabs collected for Ronald McDonald House, Dayton. She received four tickets to a free buffet at a restaurant in Dayton and two tickets to the Dayton Air Show.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 10 June 2008 )
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