Community fundraising effort for Ronald McDonald
House expands to include multiple villages

The Village of Manhattan has officially challenged neighboring communities to a summer-long pop tab collection competition benefiting the Ronald McDonald House, with Mayor Mike Adrieansen announcing the initiative during Tuesday’s board meeting.

The friendly competition between Manhattan and Channahon aims to determine which community can collect the most pop tabs throughout the summer months, with both villages also collecting donations for families with seriously ill children within their own communities.

“We both agreed that there’s nothing more important than supporting families that are seriously ill children,” Adrieansen said, noting the competition was suggested by Mary Joe Elkins, an Elwood resident who works in Manhattan.

The villages have also invited Symmerton and Elwood to participate in the challenge. Collection points will be established at village halls and participating bars and restaurants throughout each community.

Details are still being finalized, but organizers plan to weigh the collected pop tabs and announce results at Labor Day festivities. The competition adds a playful element to the charitable cause, with Adrieansen joking that when Manhattan wins, “we can expect Mayor Schumarker to serve our board dinner from Channahon’s restaurants.”

Trustee Tom Doyle, who has personal experience with pop tab collection, shared that he and his wife have been involved in similar efforts for three years. This year alone, they donated 161,000 pop tabs to a fifth-grade teacher in South Bend, Indiana, who works with children in need through the Ronald McDonald House program.

The initiative demonstrates growing inter-municipal cooperation in the region while supporting a cause that directly benefits families dealing with serious childhood illnesses. Residents can begin saving pop tabs from soda and beer cans, with official collection points to be announced as details are finalized.