Mathia lad collects tabs for McDonald house

Cameron Mathia, 5, Endicott, presented the pop tabs he had collected over the summer to Lizzy May from the Colfax High School FCCLA on Saturday. The tabs are collected by the FCCLA as part of a fund drive for the Spokane Ronald McDonald House. With the help of family and friends, Mathia nearly filled a five-gallon bucket of the small tabs.

Mathia, son of Chris and Jana Mathia, learned about the program in June after spending time at Main Street Books in Colfax where proprietor Joan Claussen also collects the tabs for the FCCLA drive.

Mathia had the idea to start collecting the tabs at a Fourth of July potluck. He asked others for their tabs and went through bags of cans to recycle to collect them.

"It's always been his idea," said Cameron's mother, Jana. "We've just supported him, but he's always asking for the tabs."

Claussen, who saved the tabs for him at the bookstore, started with an old jerky jar but had to keep up-sizing to accommodate the growing horde of tabs.

Cameron said he plans to keep collecting the tabs and already has garnered support from more relatives to further his efforts.