The English Honor Society at Miami Sunset High School, which is sponsored by Catherine Manfra, has been working to give back to Ronald McDonald House Charities in a very unique way — collecting pop tabs from soft drink cans.
“I have been involved with helping collect pop tabs for the Ronald McDonald House since 2010,” Manfra said. “The pop tabs are taken to a recycling center where whatever money is made off the pop tabs goes back into funding the House. It definitely gives me a good feeling knowing that I am helping others. It is also an easy way for students to get community service hours for graduation. Last year we collected four huge bags of pop tabs.”
Manfra talked about what caused her to start donating pop tabs to the Ronald McDonald House.
“When I was a student at the University of Miami, I volunteered at the Ronald McDonald House and saw what a positive impact the organization had on the families that stayed there,” she said.
Staying at the house is definitely not a vacation for the families that stay.
“For example, a child might be getting special cancer treatment here in Miami, but his family is from Texas; they can stay at the Ronald McDonald House until the child is done with the treatment instead of spending money on a hotel,” Manfra explained.
“Many families can’t afford the plane tickets and several days in a hotel but they don’t have the medical facilities they need in their hometown. Ronald McDonald House makes their trip possible by cutting costs.”
The English Honors Society (EHS), which had its first meeting on Sept. 6, has a number of other things members would like to accomplish this year. One of Ms. Manfra’s plans is to have members help decorate the entrance to the Media Center based on a different theme for each month.
“I am excited and looking forward to seeing how we can bring the Media Center back to life,” she said.
