A Collingwood parks staffer is hoping you'll save the tabs from your canned beverages to aid a new family member just starting out her life.
Dave Schleimer is collecting pop tabs and delivering them to his niece in Kitchener, who just welcomed a baby girl to the world in November. The baby has had some seizures and given a prognosis of "life in a wheelchair," said Schleimer.
"She'll need a specialized wheelchair," said Schleimer.
The family has mobilized to start collecting the aluminum pop tabs, which can be turned in at scrap yards for cash.
"She's got people collecting everywhere," said Schleimer, who has been asking his colleagues to bring in the tabs. "I've just been really happy with how many people are trying to help. We're hoping she doesn't need it. And if she doesn't, we'll donate them to somebody else who needs them."
Several Canadian charities collect and recycle pop tabs, including March of Dimes, which uses the scrap refunds to benefit its assistive devices program. The pop tabs are small and cleaner than collecting full cans, and so are easier for volunteers to handle in large volumes.
According to March of Dimes, one pound of aluminum is sold for approximately 15 cents at a scrap yard, and it takes 1,267 pop tabs to make one pound.
Schleimer will be bringing any pop tabs he collects to his niece in Kitchener.
Anyone wishing to donate their pop tabs to the cause can deliver them to town hall during regular operating hours.
