Published: September 19, 2006 09:54 pm         

South Cadets raise money for Riley Children’s Hospital

TERRE HAUTE — When a student she knew suddenly was placed in Riley Children’s Hospital needing a kidney transplant, Terre Haute South’s dean of students, Cathy Flowers, saw it as an opportunity to help. Riley uses many methods of raising money, and Flowers brought one back home.

“Collecting pop tabs raises money,” Flowers explained. “That’s all there is to it. It’s amazing how such a simple thing can bring in so much worth.”

Flowers proposed the idea to Terre Haute South, only to find a group of students wanting to do the same thing.

“I quickly found that the [Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps] was brainstorming the idea, too,” Flowers said. “We combined our efforts and it became a success.”

That was more than a year ago. During the 2005-2006 school year, the JROTC collected more than 158 pounds of pop tabs.

“It was a really good way for the cadets to get involved in the community,” said Jami Myers, junior major.

The JROTC performs various community service projects throughout the year, such as the annual campus cleanup. The service projects change with each new year, so a new idea was more than welcome.

“The pop tabs started as a personal reason for me,” Flowers explained. “My former student needed help, and afterwards, I didn’t want to end the fundraising there. It definitely became something anyone and everyone can contribute to.”

The JROTC cadets already have turned in their barrel full of pop tabs from last year and are awaiting a determination of the final amount of money they raised. In the meantime, they already have started collecting for this year.

“Pop tabs are one of the best ways to raise money because it’s a household item people already have, something people are already paying for,” said Flowers. “It takes perhaps two extra seconds to snap off a tab and you’re already making a difference.”

To help others at Riley Children’s Hospital, pop tabs can be contributed to Terre Haute South Vigo High School at 3737 S. Seventh St. in the main office.