A community-wide effort in Strathroy-Caradoc and area is aiming to set a Guinness world record while supporting the Strathroy Middlesex General Hospital. The pop tab collection campaign, led by local volunteer Gord Robbins, has already gathered an impressive amount of tabs and is hoping for more.
The initiative, which has been running for about five months, will continue through Thanksgiving weekend. Collection bins have been placed at 162 locations, including businesses, schools, and the Strathroy hospital. Participating communities include Strathroy, Mount Brydges, Komoka, Glencoe, and even local indigenous gas stations. myFM also has a collection bucket.
The funds raised from recycling the aluminum tabs will go towards help for the hospital.
Robbins expressed pride in helping the hospital, noting that having the MRI in Strathroy saves people from traveling long distances for scans.
The overwhelming community support has even surprised the hospital foundation, which receives 22 full buckets of pop tabs weekly. Many schools and local organizations have joined the effort, making it one of the largest collection drives in the area.
Coordinating the effort is no small task. Robbins drives nearly 150 kilometers every two weeks to collect tabs from various locations. However, he says the effort is worth it when he sees the incredible results.
With the campaign now extended for another five months, Robbins is calling on the community to help push the collection even further. Residents looking to contribute can drop off pop tabs at Strathroy-Middlesex General Hospital or any of the collection bins across the region. The campaign is proof that small efforts can add up to something big—both for a world record and for a great local cause.
Written by: K. Milhomens