COLLECTING FOR A CAUSE — Members of the National Honor Society at Buckeye Local High School are collecting pop can tabs for the Ronald McDonald House in Columbus. Students are holding a competition among homeroom classes through April 11. Those taking part in the event include, from left, adviser Savana Granat and Vice President Sydney Snyder. -- Contributed

CONNORVILLE — Members of the National Honor Society at Buckeye Local High School are collecting pop cans tabs to benefit the Ronald McDonald House.

The collection got underway in mid-March and will continue until April 11. Tabs will be delivered to a facility in Columbus. Adviser Savana Granat explained a competition is being held among the homerooms.

“It’s our first big service project of the year,” Granat said. “We were thinking of a way to get classrooms involved, so we’re holding a competition.”

“On April 14, I will take the four officers and we will deliver them to the Ronald McDonald House in Columbus,” Granat added.

While the collection may be a fun event for many of the students, the event holds a special significant meaning for one of the club’s members. Vice President Sydney Snyder said she is taking part in the activity in memory of her cousin, Tristan Tolloty, who died two years ago at the age of 16.

“I wanted to do something to help other kids in the hospital,” Snyder commented, saying she and her family stayed at the Ronald McDonald House while her cousin underwent treatment.

“I’m very happy that we can do things to help,” she said. “And I’m happy to be a part of it.”

Snyder will join society President Arielle Orban, Secretary Emma McHugh and Treasurer Lena Anderson, as they travel with Granat to deliver the tabs. Buckets have been placed inside each homeroom at the high school. The winners will receive 100 paws toward their Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports rewards and a half-day in the gymnasium.

Granat said the tabs will be recycled, the proceeds of which will help defray the cost of electricity at the facility, where families of young patients can stay for free. Buckeye’s National Honor Society has 19 members, with plans to induct 32 more during a ceremony scheduled for May 1.

Granat said the student organization has done a cleanup project at Warren Township Park. Students may complete a painting project there in the future, she added. Future goals the club would like to do for next year include holding a Relay For Life event at the school.