Pioneer Elementary students collect more than a million Pop Tops for Veterans

During the past years, the Pioneer Elementary students in Pierz have collected pop tops for various causes. The aluminum pop tops are then turned in for scrap metal and the profit that is made is then donated or used for the selected cause.

This year, the students collected more than a million pop tops. said Student Council Adviser Tiffanie Quinlan, who spearheaded the effort with Student Council Adviser Lisa Talberg. The cause that was selected was “Pop Tops for Veterans.”

“The Student Council gets to vote 100% of students’ choice, they get to vote on what they want to do for the fundraiser,” she said.

Knowing that students are often motivated by competitions, Quinlan suggested they turn the pop top-collecting into a competition among the grades with a prize, such as a pizza party, for the winner. Never in a million years had either anticipated that the challenge would produce such tremendous results, she said.

“We weren’t sure how it was going to turn out. When we started out, we figured we would just need a container, like a big pickle jar container for each grade level,” she said.

Flyers and messages were sent to parents to inform them of the effort that would take place over two months. The parents and the students were also told they could bring in whatever pop tops they collected at any time during the two months.

“It took off and before we knew it, we had big tubs full of pop tops. It was crazy,” Quinlan said.

The collected pop tops, which altogether weighed about 575 pounds, were picked up by Greg Tomberlin, who lives near the Morrison County line north of Pierz.

Once the value of scrap metal increases, Tomberlin said he plans to take in the pop tops and bring the proceeds to the VA Health Care System Polytrauma Rehabilitation Center in Minneapolis. While veterans and active duty servicemembers members medical costs are already covered, the funds are used to support the costs of recreational activities the veterans or active servicemembers want to do.

Collecting Pop Tops for Veterans is something Tomberlin has been doing for more than a decade. A member of the Walter P. Car Club, Tombelin said the club initially had a fundraiser for the Diabetes Association every year, but decided to raise funds for a different cause.

“One of our members volunteered one day a week down at the polytrauma unit, wheeling patients to their X-rays and their appointments, so we decided we would do a fundraiser for the polytrauma unit. I don’t know how we decided on pop tops, but that’s what it started out to be,” he said.

Each year, the challenge has been to collect more pop tops than they did the year before. Other car clubs Tomberlin and his wife, Sherry, are members of, and other organization have joined the collection effort over the years, as well.

The first year, Tomberlin said they collected a five-quart ice cream bucket full of pop tops. The following year, the goal was set to fill a barrel.

“We’ve added a barrel each year now since, except for the COVID situation, so last year, we filled nine barrels. This year, the goal is to fill 10 55-gallon barrels,” he said.

Last year’s donation to the poly trauma unit with the Tomberlin’s matching donation was $2,900, Tomberlin said.

While Tomberlin knew the Pioneer Elementary students were collecting pop tops. he said he never anticipated they would collect as many as they did. However, it is something he is immeasurably grateful for as it means more funds for the veterans.

When the collection of Pop Tops for Veterans began, whatever dollar amount was received from turning in the collected pop tops were matched by a company in Monticello and by the Tomberlins’ company. Althoguh the company in Montocello has long ceased to match the collection, the Tomberlins’ continue to match the amount each year. An Army veteran himself, the cause hits close to home, he said.

The Tomberlins also pick up the cost for the Pop Tops for Veterans decals that are produced and given to various business owners and organizations, such as the VFW Post 1647 in Brainerd, VFW Post 1816 in Garrison, the Sobieski Lions Club, the Pantowners Antique Auto Club in St. Cloud and the Lone Eagle Auto Club in Little Falls. While most organizations, clubs and businesses collect pop tops, customers at the 371 Diner in Baxter can make financial donations in the collection jar for Pop Tops for Veterans.

To start collecting pop tops or make financial donations to Pop Tops for Veterans, contact Tomberlin at (218) 829-2769.