American Legion Family providing support to local Ronald McDonald House

For years the American Legion Family at Anderson-Claffy Post 109 in Two Harbors, Minn., has collected pop can tabs to donate to Ronald McDonald House Charities via a local McDonald’s restaurant. But after a new Ronald McDonald House opened in nearby Duluth, the post wanted to make this year’s donation more personal.

In early April, representatives from American Legion Auxiliary Unit 109 delivered 90 pounds of pop tabs to local Ronald McDonald House that opened earlier this year. Ronald McDonald House charities recycles the tabs and gets between 40-60 cents per pound to assist its efforts.

A Ronald McDonald House provides a comfortable, safe place for families to stay near to a hospital where their child is receiving care, at little or no cost to the family. No family is ever turned away because of the inability to pay.

“We used to bring (the pop tabs) out to our local McDonald’s, and then they would take them to wherever they were needed,” said Unit 109 President Nancy Hopper, a 65-year Auxiliary member. “When our McDonald’s no longer had (inside service), I started looking and discovered there was actually (a Ronald McDonald House) in Duluth. So we will be going there from now on. It was just a real easy fit, and it’s local. It’s 30 miles away. And when I called them, they were all excited.”

While the Auxiliary coordinates the donation program, Hopper said Post 109’s entire American Legion Family donates to it. Hopper made it a point to contact local media about the recent donation in hopes of creating more awareness about the pop tab program. “If everybody knew, we should be able to get twice, three times as many (pop tabs) as we have now, which would mean more help,” she said.

While Unit 109 regularly supported residents of the Minnesota Veterans Home-Silver Bay in-person pre-pandemic, including monthly bingo games, Hopper said providing support to the Ronald McDonald House allows the post’s Legion Family to expand its assistance efforts.

“It helps the children that are there, and the families,” Hopper said. “That is one of the Four Pillars: Children and Youth. It’s nice knowing you’ve helped somebody on the younger end.

“It’s a warm and fuzzy feeling (to make the donation). It’s just a very good feeling. It’s like when we play bingo at the veterans home. They love for us to come up there. This is the same type of feeling: just knowing you’ve helped somebody.”

Hopper also urged residents across the nation to remember to save their pop tabs and bring them to local Auxiliary units who participate in the donation program.