Peabody Campaign Collects 40K Tabs For Ronald McDonald House Charities

PEABODY, MA — A North Shore campaign to collect can tabs this summer for donation to Ronald McDonald House Charities New England programs resulted in more than 40,000 tabs being delivered to the Charlestown Habor location Thursday afternoon.

State Rep. Thomas Walsh (D-Peabody) delivered the aluminum can tabs to the Ronald McDonald House leadership team on Thursday.

Ronald McDonald House Charities New England recycles the tabs and uses the scrap value to run its programs for families of children being treated in New England hospitals.

"I am so grateful for the outpouring of support from friends and neighbors who took the time to collect these can tabs at summer cookouts and family reunions to support the Ronald McDonald House Charities," Rep. Walsh said. "Thank you for making this drive a success for the families who are offered a warm, friendly place to stay while their child receives life-saving treatment at nearby Boston and Rhode Island hospitals."

The Ronald McDonald House Charities New England provides lodging and hospitality, home-cooked meals, and family-oriented activities for families from across the globe during the duration of their child’s treatment at world-renowned hospitals.

"It was a pleasure to welcome Representative Walsh and his team to our Ronald McDonald House at Boston Harbor," said RMHCNE CEO Gretchen Manning. "I am grateful to the Peabody community for all of their efforts to collect pop tabs to benefit the children and families we serve.

"Today is a shining example of the power in small acts of kindness."

Those wishing to donate further to the Ronald McDonald House Charities can do through purchasing items on its nonprofit wish list here.

Additional ways to provide help to patients' families can be found by visiting the Ronald McDonald House Charities New England website or by calling 617-398-6458.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)