The aluminum Tab Toss in May 2022 in Milwaukee collected 4,700 pounds to benefit the Ronald McDonald House. This past May, they collected 6,300 pounds, 10,246,500 tabs.

With donations from corporations, foundations and individuals, they were able to add on a new long-term wing with 14 spacious guest rooms to keep families together during their loved one’s treatments.

Tidbits: Dominic, son of Jessica (Podnar) and Robert Nijildo, was born with HLHS, or left-heart syndrome — basically half a heart. Years ago he would not have survived.

At 5 days old, he had his first open-heart surgery. At 3 months, he had his second surgery. At 3 1/2 years old, he had his third surgery. He remained at Children’s Wisconsin hospital in Milwaukee for the first four months while his parents stayed at the Ronald McDonald House. He is now 8 years old, thanks to the heart specialists at Children’s Wisconsin.

In 2022, 27,598 service hours were provided by 350-plus volunteers.

Last year we — that means all of you — collected 1 million tabs. There were 57,000 over, so I added them to the 2 million goal. They just keep coming and I just picked up 119,000 from Tom & Jo’s in Aurora, Wis.

We are now at 1.5 million.

Drop off locations are: The Mine Shaft Bar & Grill, 101 Bar & Grill and Northern Lites in Florence, Wis.; Sach’s in Tipler, Wis.; Bob & Jerry’s in Kingsford; Tom & Jo’s and Stephenson Marketing in Aurora; and Nichols Flooring and Tile in Iron River.