Aluminum can pop tabs are tiny, but when they are collected by Georgia 4-H’ers all over the state, they can have a huge impact. Over the last 12 years, 4-H’ers across Georgia have collected enough pop tabs to raise more than $71,000 for Ronald McDonald House Charities in Georgia and Tennessee.

4-H’ers at all three Fannin County elementary schools compete in a contest to see which school can collect the most pop tabs for Fannin County 4-H. The tabs are taken to the recycling plant and turned into dollars for the Ronald McDonald House.

West Fannin Elementary school 5th graders won the contest this year by collecting 135 pounds of pop tabs. Blue Ridge Elementary 5th graders collected 45 pounds and East Fannin Elementary 5th graders collected 22 pounds of pop tabs. Fannin County Head Start contributed 26 pounds of pop tabs toward this worthy cause.

Any group or individual can donate their pop tabs to Fannin County 4-H to help the Ronald McDonald House. Bring pop tabs in a zip-lock bag to the Fannin County Extension Office. Put a label on the bag with your school’s name on it.

Article submitted by: Becky Ratcliff, Extension Associate, UGA Extension – Fannin County