Your Incredible Neighbors: Girls campaign to collect cans

Can cans really make a difference? Lauren Brannon and Elyssa Mendoza believe they can.

The girls, ages 10 and 11, who will be going into fifth grade at Continental School, are out campaigning to collect enough aluminum cans to exchange for $500 cash through a recycling effort.

With the money raised, they plan to buy toys, games and DVDs for children hospitalized with serious illnesses or undergoing cancer treatments at University Medical Center.

Lauren’s mother Karen Brannon said her daughter approached her with the idea and it got under way at the end of April. Now she’s guiding the girls as they collect aluminum cans and raise money; she’s also transporting trash bags filled with crushed cans to Metal Management in Tucson.

With a current exchange rate of 76 cents per pound of aluminum cans, Lauren and Elyssa will need to collect about 700 pounds to reach their $500 goal. So far, they’ve collected about 20 pounds. Brannon estimates it will take six months to a year for the girls to reach their goal.

In addition to helping children who are ill, the recycling effort is a valuable learning lesson. According to online information, it is estimated that the 46 billion aluminum cans recycled in 2005 saved the equivalent of 14 million barrels of crude oil. That’s nearly one day of U.S. gas consumption or enough energy to generate electricity for 22.7 million homes in the U.S. for one year.

“It’s good for the girls to see how much work is involved in this project, and it’s good for them to be involved in a community effort to help children,” Brannon said.

Working with Larry and Barbara Wood of Quail Creek, Lauren and Elyssa have a large “Cans for Cancer” receptacle in the bar at Quail Creek’s Grill. The girls hand-lettered the red and pink carton, which they’re now emptying about twice a week.

Most patrons who are donating cans are crushing them, but Brannon has a can crusher at home, enabling her, Lauren and Elyssa to get more cans into a trash bag for transporting to Tucson.

In addition to collecting cans toward their $500 goal, when the weather cools Lauren and Elyssa are planning a bake sale. Under Brannon’s guidance the girls plan to bake a batch of cupcakes, brownies and Rice Krispies treats. They’re also accepting cash donations and checks made out to “Karen Brannon-Cans for Kids.”

Brannon said John and Jody Wrigley of Green Valley have made an in-kind donation of a round-trip airline ticket on America West to be used for a family member to visit a sick child at UMC.

In two separate matches, Brannon and her husband JR, who is sales manager for new homes at Quail Creek, and Jim DeWitt, senior vice president of sales for Robson Communities, will each match up to $500 in cash toward the charitable project.

Once Lauren and Elyssa reach their $500 goal, Brannon said, she plans to call a nurse manager at UMC to ask specifically what kinds of toys, games and DVDs are needed. Although Lauren and Elyssa have ideas for what they would like to donate, Brannon said she wants to guide the girls in donating what’s needed versus spending the hard-earned funds on what isn’t needed. Asked what message they wanted to send to readers Lauren said, “Please help Lauren and Elyssa collect cans and donations.”

To donate cans, cash or a check, call Karen Brannon at 399-4454; she and the girls will pick up any donation.

Ellen Sussman is a freelance writer for the Green Valley News.