Elementary students within Keystone Central School District joined Liberty-Curtin via Zoom on Wednesday to kick off the start of their 2026 aluminum tab collection.

This year, Principal Brett Umbenhouer is challenging students to help collect 1,200 pounds of aluminum tabs to donate to the Ronald McDonald House in Danville.

Liberty Curtin began collecting tabs for the Ronald McDonald House four years ago, involving many other schools over the years, adding Renovo Elementary two years ago and Woodward last year. This year, Umbenhouer, faculty and staff at Liberty-Curtin will include all elementary schools in the district under the theme “All In.”

“We started collecting my first year here as a principal,” Umbenhouer said. “We had families in the past, prior to starting this contest, that stayed at the Ronald McDonald House, and it got us thinking, ‘How can we give back to them?'”

PHOTO PROVIDED Elementary schools and classrooms within the district joined via Zoom as they launched their 2026 tab collection competition.

What started out as one school collecting tabs has turned into a community wide effort, sparking friendly competition amongst students.

From now until May 28 the elementary schools will be competing to collect the most aluminum tabs in terms of weight.

Last year, students at Liberty-Curtin collected 454 pounds of aluminum tabs, winning a popsicle party; Woodward collected 449 pounds; and Renovo collected 167 pounds, totaling 1,060 pounds.

To better understand the importance of the program, students watched a video provided by the Ronald McDonald House titled “Pop Tabs: Power of One.”

“It all starts with your one tab, joined by another and another and another,” the video said. “The power of one starts with you.”

The Ronald McDonald House uses aluminum can tabs to help to offset the expenses of the families that stay there. The tabs are taken to a recycling center and exchanged for cash, which is used to support the families that stay there.

At the Ronald McDonald House, families with sick children are provided a warm, safe and comfortable place to eat and sleep, while staying close to the care they need — when they need it the most. These services help reduce stress, financial burden and strengthen family’s coping abilities.

Students are asked to reach out to their families, friends and local groups and businesses to assist in collecting aluminum tabs during this school year.

“We’ve reached out to some local businesses to help us collect as many tabs as possible,” said Principal Umbenhouer.

Umbenhouer extended the competition to the community to help students reach their goal this year.

“We don’t care what elementary school they (our students) go to, at the end of the day, we do this to help others,” said Umbenhouer.