A little means a lot

LOON BAY -

Women involved in the United Church Women's group in Loon Bay are interested in your soda cans.

No they aren't recycling, however the women are collecting the top tabs that help open soda cans for Wheelchairs for Children.

The women became interested in the idea after receiving the bi-annual publication of West District UCW.

"We had a News and Views newsletter and in it they had a brief there about turning pop tabs into wheelchairs for children," said UCW member Marie Dove. "I read the little article they had there and then took it to the UCW group and we decided that we would do a collection."

The publication stated that Robert Hampson, an inspirational 15-year-old, who battles brain tumours and blindness, is reaching out to people less fortunate than himself by collecting the tabs, having them recycled and using the money to buy wheelchairs or other equipment not covered by insurance plans.

Ms. Dove said the group plans on collecting the tabs over the course of the year and taking them to Gander to be recycled.

"We have to take the tabs to the United Church in Gander and they recycle them and then give the money to the Wheelchairs For Children," she said. "We will be collecting them over the year because, of course, it takes a lot of pop tabs to equal anything."

Members of the UCW are now looking to partner with committees in the area for the cause.

"The recreation committee here has a recycling program going, so we are going to approach them to see if we can collect the tabs off their cans before they are actually recycled," said Ms. Dove. "The tabs are usually discarded, but they can be used to make a real difference."

The UCW will collect the tabs until November. Although no date has been set as a deadline for collection, Ms. Dove said they will make an effort to inform everyone of the pending deadline.

For more information on Wheelchairs For Children or pop tabs collection contact the United Church in Gander at (709) 256-3000, or Ms. Dove at 261-2436.