by Nalina Shapiro
edited by Erica Jordan
Taped outside the community service office, a sign read “pop it, wiggle it, donate, save it.”
Paula Slowe organized a drive to collect can tabs which will benefit the Shriner’s Hospital for Children in Springfield, Massachusetts. Slowe is a sophomore and Community Service Coordinator.
For Slowe, helping children holds personal meaning.
“Over the summer I worked at a church with kids who were really sick. I know that the smallest things can help,” said Slowe.
This semester, Slowe’s goal is to collect 25 pounds of tabs, something that should not be hard to accomplish, considering last semester 55 pounds were donated.
“A few changes I made this semester were making flyers I put in students mailboxes and also contacted Jim Earle who sent out a campus wide email,” said Slowe.
She hopes with more publicity, the number of tabs donated will exceed her current goal.
“Students end up of having lots of empty cans after their weekend parties. They are going to throw them out anyway, so why not donate them to a great cause,” said Slowe.
Senior Derek Flodin said he likes the idea. “I would donate my tabs if I knew exactly what they were going towards. If it was not an organized event, I probably would not,” said Flodin.
Once the tabs are collected, Slowe is bringing them to Shriner’s, and the money collected goes towards medical and non-medical needs. Items the hospital will purchase include a trailer to transport medical needs and infusion pumps used to dispense pain medication. Since 1922, Shriner’s has provided free medical care, specializing in burn victims, clef lips and orthopedics, for children up to 18 years old.
The only challenge facing Slowe is the lack of student motivation. “A lot of times people forget, even when they are told several times,” said Slowe.
Marabeth Farmer, Assistant Director for Community Service, said, “Anyone who wants to throw in a dollar instead of a tab is more than welcome to do so.” A table will be set up March 22-26 in the glass foyer.