To most, a pop tab is just a small piece of aluminum. But for students in Linton-Stockton High School’s Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) program, it represents something much greater—478,000 pieces of purpose.

Earlier this month, students in Halea Franklin’s JAG classes delivered more than 478,000 pop tabs to the Ronald McDonald House in Indianapolis. The donation supports a longstanding program that began in 1995, in which pop tabs are collected, recycled, and converted into funds that help operate the house and support the thousands of families it serves each year.

As part of their curriculum, JAG students are encouraged to participate in community service. When brainstorming project ideas, several students who work at the local McDonald’s suggested supporting the Ronald McDonald House by organizing a pop tab drive. McDonald’s has been a mission partner of Ronald McDonald House Charities since the first house opened in Philadelphia in 1974.

“Our initial goal was to collect 50 pounds, and we quickly blew that out of the water. I thought to myself, wouldn’t it be cool if we could donate 100 pounds?” Franklin said. “When it was all said and done, we donated more than 300 pounds!”

Throughout February, students collected tabs from classmates, school staff and community members. Donation bins were also set up during home boys’ and girls’ basketball games, thanks to a collaboration with the Linton-Stockton athletic department.

Rader Media Sports LLC, the school’s athletic broadcast and media production partner, promoted the project during game coverage. They also enlisted support from several of their Miner Pride sponsors, including Indiana Farm Bureau agents Jathan Wright and Alicia Cornelius, and Crane Credit Union.

A large donation also came from the Clay City boys’ basketball team in honor of one of their students undergoing treatment at Riley Hospital for Children.

The JAG program plans to continue the service project, with a long-term goal of donating 1 million tabs.

“We can’t meet that goal without the help of our community,” Franklin said.

She encourages residents and businesses to save tabs from aluminum beverage cans and canned goods. Donation information will be shared when the new school year begins.

For questions, contact Franklin at hfranklin@lssc.k12.in.us.