# Ronald McDonald House and pop tops **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 30, 2001, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ronald-mcdonald-house-and-pop-tops/78887 "2001-08-30T05:12:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2001, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ronald-mcdonald-house-and-pop-tops/78887/1 "2001-08-30T05:12:00Z")
So what’s the deal with collecting pop tops for Ronald McDonald House? How do they translate into a benefit to the charity? I remember years ago I used to see them collected for dialysis and I could never find out how that worked either. Even the people I’ve seen collecting the pop tops don’t know how it works. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2001, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ronald-mcdonald-house-and-pop-tops/78887/2 "2001-08-30T05:16:58Z")
I find alot of people in the same situation. They’re collecting the damn things, but don’t know who to turn it in to. I’m thinking it’s an UL. I don’t actually know of any company that will give to charity if you turn in so many pop tops. Can someone verify/disprove my thoery that the pop top for charity thing is just a crock? ---
**Author:** ![Xgemina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/b5e925/32.png) [@Xgemina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xgemina)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2001, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ronald-mcdonald-house-and-pop-tops/78887/3 "2001-08-30T05:24:19Z")
The short answer to your question is: yes, pop tops donated to McDonalds are used in helping out Ronald McDonald houses. Here’s the snoopes article which will explain more: [http://www.snopes.com/spoons/legends/pulltab.htm](http://www.snopes.com/spoons/legends/pulltab.htm) The answer concerning McDonalds is at the bottom of the page. ---
**Author:** ![Sultan\_Kinkari](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7bcc69/32.png) [@Sultan\_Kinkari](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sultan_Kinkari)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2001, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ronald-mcdonald-house-and-pop-tops/78887/4 "2001-08-30T05:36:55Z")
A million aluminum pull-tabs from the tops of beverage cans gets you $474.00 from an aluminum recycler. In other words, it is a total waste of time and you would be better off saving the whole damn can. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2001, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ronald-mcdonald-house-and-pop-tops/78887/5 "2001-08-30T06:28:52Z")
D’oh! I knew there was a reason I thought this was a UL. Thanks y’all. ---
**Author:** ![CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crankyasanoldman/32/11670_2.png) [@CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrankyAsAnOldMan)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2001, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ronald-mcdonald-house-and-pop-tops/78887/6 "2001-08-30T14:02:56Z")
Well, this makes a little more sense in a state with a can deposit. By yanking off the tabs, people can still selfishly get their .10 or .05 back, but still have a wee bit of recyclable metal to send off to Ronald McDonald House. That’s what I thought this was always about. Obviously, you can get a lot father just donating your can, but I know some people, having paid that money up front, feel they’re entitled to get it back. Pop-top tab programs are perfect for them. But then what do I know? ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2001, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ronald-mcdonald-house-and-pop-tops/78887/7 "2001-08-30T17:08:20Z")
I’ve seen drop boxes at my local McD’s restaurants, so I’m sure the pop-top thing is to save space. [shameless appeal]Ronald McDonald’s Children’s Charities do help a lot of kids out, and the families of children who have serious diseases by giving them a place to stay during the kid’s treatment. Please don’t assume this is an urban legend and not donate your pop tops.[/shameless appeal] Robin ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2001, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ronald-mcdonald-house-and-pop-tops/78887/8 "2001-08-30T17:32:15Z")
[http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3\_077.html](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_077.html) ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2001, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ronald-mcdonald-house-and-pop-tops/78887/9 "2001-08-30T17:42:22Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by wishbone_: > > A million aluminum pull-tabs from the tops of beverage cans gets you $474.00 from an aluminum recycler. > > In other words, it is a total waste of time and you would be better off saving the whole damn can. This is the best argument that pull-tab fanatics can come up with, and while **MsRobyn’s** heart is in the right place, consider this: 1000000 pull-tabs = $474.00 for charity 1000000 pennies = $10,000.00 for charity Which are you more likely to have in your pocket when you visit McDonald’s?