Nearly five years has passed since Emily Bookwalter's twin sister Jessica died after a long battle with a brain tumor. Thursday, on their birthday, Central Elementary School celebrated in a caring way towards others.
Back in December, Emily put out a request on social media for folks to start collecting their aluminum pop can tabs.
She wanted to do something for other families who are suffering through the pains of living with illness like her twin sister and family endured.
The Ronald McDonald House in Pittsburgh helps give families a place to stay as their loved one is in the hospital. The house collects aluminum pop tabs they then recycle for money to help provide this service.
Emily's post through her mom Michelle's profile on Facebook was noticed by her teachers at school. The twins were in the first-grade there when Jessica died. Emily is now an honor roll student in the sixth grade.
Back in December, Emily put out a request on social media for folks to start collecting their aluminum pop can tabs.
She wanted to do something for other families who are suffering through the pains of living with illness like her twin sister and family endured.
The Ronald McDonald House in Pittsburgh helps give families a place to stay as their loved one is in the hospital. The house collects aluminum pop tabs they then recycle for money to help provide this service.
Emily's post through her mom Michelle's profile on Facebook was noticed by her teachers at school. The twins were in the first-grade there when Jessica died. Emily is now an honor roll student in the sixth grade.
The school held a contest to make the charitable function a little more fun. The winner was to receive an ice cream float party. And the students and staff took it seriously.
"This is crazy, one kid brought in a 50-pound dog food bag full of them," Emily said waiting for the school-wide assembly to begin. The assembly celebrated their accomplishment and showed off the bag after bag of these shiny tabs.
Emily and Jessica's parents, Michelle and Chris Bookwalter said they will take the tabs to Pittsburgh soon.
Emily and Jessica's parents, Michelle and Chris Bookwalter said they will take the tabs to Pittsburgh soon.
"I was blown away by the number of tabs collected," teacher Shawn Hawke said at the assembly. "Each tab means something." She then read class by class how much was collected. From one pound all the way up to 97 pounds, the entire school collected nearly 500 pounds.
Principle Gary Canfora told the kids, "you did a wonderful job helping other families."
Michelle Bookwalter said it is really overwhelming the support she and her family has received.
The school sang "Happy Birthday" to Emily and Jessica at the end of the assembly and Hawke reminded Emily that "Central Elementary was behind you 100 percent of the way" in her goal to collect as many tabs as she could.
Some parents and teachers also asked area businesses to collect the tabs.
The Bookwalters said they aren't done and anyone who wants to continue collecting the tabs can do so. Hawke said they can contact her at the school and she'll make sure the tabs get to them.
The Bookwalters said they aren't done and anyone who wants to continue collecting the tabs can do so. Hawke said they can contact her at the school and she'll make sure the tabs get to them.
The Ronald McDonald House website states that approximately 1,128 tabs equal one pound. Each pound then equals between 40 to 50 cents. So Central collected over half-million tabs. The tabs will bring between $200-300 for something that would otherwise be tossed away or recycled for no money. This will assist families who could use a little help in a very trying time, just like the Bookwalters nearly five years ago.
RSS Feed