Tabs for Tammy
Reams Elementary School students collect aluminum tabs in honor of burned classmate
By Joan Tupponce CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Child Safety Officer Cindy Denny (from left), Tammy Nguyen, Jako Nguyen and Chau Nguyen count tabs from aluminum cans that will be donated to the Shriners Hospital for Children in Tammy's honor. Tammy sustained serious burns on 80 percent of her body during a recent house fire.

When students in Joanna Hoyt's third-grade class at Reams Elementary School learned their classmate, 8-year-old Tammy Nguyen, had been burned on 80 percent of her body during a house fire, they rallied for her recovery in a most unusual way: by drinking more sodas.

Just days after the Mar. 3 blaze in which Nguyen's father reportedly set fire to the family's home during a domestic dispute, students began collecting aluminum tabs from soda cans to be sent to the Shriners Hospital for Children in Cincinnati. So far, the children, along with the help of their peers at Reams and the community, have collected approximately 200,000 aluminum tabs. The donation is being made in honor of Nguyen, who is now recovering from the fire that also claimed the lives of her brother, grandmother and father.

Students learned about the tab project while looking at the hospital's Web site two days after the fire. Volunteers at the hospital collect the tabs and sell them to a recycling center. The money they receive is used to purchase a variety of items such as books, games and puzzles for the children in the hospital as well as clothing for the families.

"We talked about the project as a class idea," Hoyt said. "A lot of the students had heard about Tammy and wanted to come up with something to do for her. Collecting tabs was something they could do right then so they could feel like they were helping out."

Nguyen's classmates made posters about the project. Hoyt helped prepare a letter about the project that was sent home to all Reams families. Students also made collection boxes with a letter attached. The boxes were given to companies such as Ukrop's, area churches, schools and local fire departments.

"News about the project spread by word of mouth," said Reams Principal Mary Dunn.

Hoyt's students are responsible for counting the tabs and averaging out how many they have collected.

"Every morning we have students putting tabs in the tall, clear container that sits in the hallway outside of our room," Hoyt says.

"We decorated the table with Tammy's name on it. We also have a tree with flower pictures of Tammy."

Earlier this month, the school also held a can drive.

"We asked for can donations," Dunn said, noting that the money raised will help Nguyen and her family. "Anyone can donate. They can also bring in tabs."

Hoyt believes her students are learning a great lesson in volunteering.

"They've really gained compassion and a sense of caring," she said. "They've become very protective of Tammy. Her family knows what we are doing and has thanked us for it."