It was smiling children, ice cream cones, an appearance by Ronald McDonald, two million pop tabs and a worthwhile cause all rolled up into one event on Saturday afternoon as Hannah’s Hope celebrated its second annual pop tab donation drive, which took place during the month of January.
After collecting one million pop tabs a year ago, Hannah’s Hope was able to double that total to over two million with help from the Portage Township Schools and the Portage community. The organization, founded by Portage residents Mike and Mary Martinez, is a not for profit that aims to assist children with special needs obtain various therapies and costly medical equipment.
“Last year we had the help of three Portage elementary schools and this year, with the help of Portage Township Schools Assistant Superintendent Mary Tracy, we actually had all 11 Portage Township Schools involved,” Mike Martinez said. “I couldn’t be more excited to be part of this.”
The pop tabs are melted down, translating into dollars that are used to help families in financial need stay at the Ronald McDonald House so that they can be with their ill children.
“Hannah was going in for hip surgery at the Children’s Memorial last February and it was my wife’s idea to get a milk jug full of pop tabs and a couple of friends got involved and a couple of schools got involved and low and behold it turned into a million pop tabs,” Martinez said. “We thought there’s no way we couldn’t do it again this year, and we doubled our total from last year. Even though we lost Hannah in July, her mission continues.”
Portage Township Schools held a contest to see which school could collect the most pop tabs during the month of January. Myers Elementary School hauled in 161 pounds, or approximately 241,500 pop tabs, which comes out to about 599 pop tabs per student. That total was just enough for Myers to edge second place South Haven Elementary and claim the trophy and traveling plaque.
“It warms my heart because it’s really all the kids and the idea that they wanted to be able to make a difference,” Myers Elementary Principal Jeff King said. “For them it wasn’t about winning, it was all about being able to make a difference and contributing to an organization that was going to help kids who are struggling with serious illnesses.”
The children who attended the pop tab collection celebration, all of whom received an ice cream cone compliments of Hannah’s Hope, enjoyed the thrill of meeting special guest Ronald McDonald.
“I can tell you personally, I met Ronald McDonald when I was about eight or nine years old and I just remember it being a lot of fun,” Martinez said.
Martinez said that after collecting two million pop tabs in one month, the sky is the limit for next year.
“I appreciate PortageLife coming out and covering this, I know you guys do a great job with everything positive in the community,” he said. “I don’t know if it gets any more positive than this: selfless acts of people helping complete strangers. It doesn’t get any better than that.”