The Mohawk Ramblers Motorcycle Club of Montague recently collected and donated 89.2 lbs. of aluminum can tabs to the Pre-Employment Program. According to Charlie Choleva, PEP lead academic instructor, that's the equivalent of 106,800 can tabs.
The Montague Elks also recently donated 10 lbs. of can tabs. Choleva estimates that PEP collected more than 100 lbs. of can tabs since the fall.
The can tabs are donated to Ronald McDonald House in Springfield. The Pre-Employment Program is still collecting can tabs to donate and welcomes anyone to become involved.
Gary Squires of the Mohawk Ramblers said this is the second year the club has collected and donated the can tabs; last year they collected 49 lbs.
"We didn't get a large turnout the first year, but this year the whole club was onboard," Squires said. "The more people get involved the more it becomes a challenge and the more we collect."
Choleva appreciated the involvement of the Mohawk Ramblers.
"This was amazing," he said. "They surpassed their goal for this year. I want to thank all of the members for the support that shows our students that there are good things that organizations do for our community."
The club, based out of Lake Pleasant, has formed in 1958 and still retains one original member.
Squires said the Mohawk Ramblers have the highest percentage of any club in the area for getting involved in worthy causes, including charities, scholarships and other school-related efforts. A couple of years ago, the club collected money to help out a family in the Lake Pleasant area that lost their home in a fire.
"We're all members of the community and when these things happen, we can pick it up and get behind causes that everybody can support," Squires said.