The American Legion Dept. of NC: Ronald McDonald Houses

One of The American Legion's original purposes, the support of our veterans' orphans, soon changed to encompass all of of our nation's children. Through it's National Child Welfare Foundation the Legion has supported many programs throughout the nation that work toward the betterment of lives of America's youths. One way that the Department of North Carolina and it's Children and Youth Commission work toward this same goal is by supporting the Ronald McDonald Houses of North Carolina.
Ronald McDonald houses are located in close proximity to hospitals that give special health care to children. They provide a low cost bed for the parents of children who are undergoing extended care in hospitals that are remote from the family home.
The houses are financially supported by the McDonalds Corporation and from public donations to the houses. One method of fund raising used by the houses is the collection of pull-tabs from drink cans. At it's Fall Conference in November of 1997, the Department Children and Youth Commission and the Department of North Carolina elected to adopt the support of Ronald McDonald Houses as one of it's Children and Youth programs. Posts throughout the state have elected to participate in the program by collecting the pull-tabs and by making direct donations to the houses. Through February 2000, the posts in North Carolina had forwarded 1089 pounds of pull-tabs to department headquarters and then on to the Ronald McDonald Houses where they were. The proceeds are used to help support the houses. It appears as if the program is quickly picking up steam. At the department convention in June of 2000 a total of 1,412 pounds of tabs were turned in, more than doubling the total pounds to date. Updated numbers are over 4,915 lbs this year, over $10,000 has been donated to The Ronald McDonald House since 2001. At the RMH in Durham over 30% of the families are military families with children who have been refered and are being treated at Duke or one of the other area hospitals.

Ronald McDonald House Facts

Department Pull-Tab Background

Pop Tab Program Ideas

Pull Tabs Collected at 2008 Fall Conference

Pull Tabs Collected at 2008 Convention

Pull Tabs Collected at 2008 Mid-Winter Conference

Pull Tabs Collected at 2007 Fall Conference

Pull Tabs Collected at 2007 Convention listed by Post

Pull Tabs Collected at 2007 Mid-Winter Conference

Pull Tabs Collected at 2006 Fall Conference

Pull Tabs Collected at 2006 Convention

Pull Tabs Collected at 2006 Mid-Winter Conference

Pop Tabs collected at the 2005 Fall Conference

Ronald McDonald House of Durham

Pull Tabs Program Poster