Southside Elementary School buzzed with excitement as students and staff came together Thursday afternoon to celebrate the success of their community-driven initiative benefiting the Ronald McDonald House of the Ohio Valley.
The Hopkins County Central High School Math and Science Club teamed up with South Hopkins Middle and Southside Elementary this year to sponsor a pop tab drive supporting the Ronald McDonald House of the Ohio Valley, which helps families of critically sick children.
During an assembly in the elementary school’s gymnasium, Co-chair of the Math and Science Club at Hopkins Central, Valarie Dunlap, thanked the elementary students for doing “a super job on collecting pop tabs for Ronald McDonald House,” and shared her reason for supporting the charity organization.
click to download audioShe shared that Hopkins County Central gathered 144 pounds of pop tabs, while Southside Elementary collected more than 170 pounds.
click to download audioDunlap noted that Southside Elementary held the pop tab drive by house colors, with the yellow house earning second place by collecting over 37 pounds.
click to download audioShe added that the teal house took first place and won the Spirit Stick by just 6 ounces, collecting more than 38 pounds of pop tabs.
click to download audioAfter winners were announced, staff led students outside for a special surprise from Chris McEnaney, owner of several McDonald’s in the area, including Madisonville. The surprise was McDonald’s mascot Grimace, who greeted students by the flagpole.
McEnaney told WFMW’s News Edge the pop tab drive began years ago after Hopkins Central High School reached out, and it has grown steadily.
click to download audioDunlap said the pop tab drive began as a community project and has since grown throughout the school district.
click to download audioShe encouraged the community to keep saving pop tabs for next year.
click to download audioMcEnaney explained that the pop tab drive helps Ronald McDonald House give back to the community, supporting programs like the Parent Care Rooms in Madisonville.
click to download audioIn total, Dunlap said South Hopkins Middle, Hopkins Central High, and Southside Elementary collected 379 pounds of pop tabs.
