What Started With One Soda Tab Became Something Incredible

How Aluminum Can Tabs Are Helping a Montana Family

Most of us don't think twice about tossing an empty soda can in the trash.

But for one family in Montana, something as small as the tab from that can is making a big difference.

Medical Travel Costs Add Up Quickly For Families

Six-year-old Ellie Uthman has spent the last year battling bilateral hip dysplasia. During that time, she's undergone four surgeries, with another trip to Utah planned later this summer.

If you've ever dealt with a serious medical issue, you know the expenses go far beyond the hospital bills. Travel costs, hotel stays, meals, and time away from work all add up quickly.

That's where those little aluminum pull tabs come in.

The Ronald McDonald House collects aluminum tabs and recycles them to help offset costs for families traveling for medical care. It might not sound like much, but when you collect enough of them, they can make a real difference.

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Nearly 300,000 Tabs Collected For A Meaningful Cause

Ellie and her family started collecting tabs on their own, but once people heard about what she was doing, the Helena community stepped up in a big way.

Friends, classmates, local businesses, and community members all started saving tabs for Ellie.

Her original goal was to collect enough tabs to fill up a backyard swimming pool. Thanks to the support she's received, she's now collected nearly 300,000 tabs weighing a combined 95 pounds.

It's a pretty good reminder that sometimes the smallest things can end up making the biggest impact.

Source: KTVH