NANTICOKE - When 6-year-old Mason Gibson asked his neighbor why she was collecting aluminum can tabs in her front yard, she told him they "help people."
Nearly nine months later, with the help of his classmates and teachers at Good Shepherd Academy, Mason has collected countless tabs - potentially thousands - filling a 50-gallon tub and more.
"I've never seen that many tabs in my life," Mason's father, Steve Gibson, said.
"We were trying to fill up this," Mason said, holding up a small box. "We did, we really did!"
Mason started his collection before he knew its fate. His parents, Steve and Mandy Gibson, helped their son choose the Ronald McDonald House, an organization close to their hearts.
"When Mason's brother Bryce was born, he was very sick," Mr. Gibson said.
Bryce, 4, was born prematurely and treated in the neonatal intensive care unit at Geisinger Community Medical Center, just "far enough" from the family's Nanticoke home that they did not want to leave.
"I slept in a chair that turned out to be in a Ronald McDonald room," Steve Gibson said. "They helped us even though we didn't ask for it."
Mason will donate all of the tabs he has collected to the Ronald McDonald House of Scranton, where his family spent nine days as Bryce was treated. After recycling, the Ronald McDonald House will receive 40 cents for every 1,400 tabs Mason collected.
Mason will present the tabs to Ronald McDonald himself, who will visit Good Shepherd Academy today to give a presentation on bullying.
"It was neat to see the whole school helping out," Mrs. Gibson said. "They really came together."
"We thought it was a worthwhile effort," said Good Shepherd Academy Principal James Jones.
Mason will continue to collect tabs even after he has donated his current collection.
"They make money for kids in the hospital," he said. "I'm helping people. I want to help people so I can protect them."
Contact the writer: sscinto@citizensvoice.com