National Society Daughters of the American Revolution Agua Fria Chapter Daughter Mary Kay Campbell, who lives at The Palms at Sun City Assisted & Senior Living, recently had her friends and family members save can tabs, greeting card fronts and plastic bags.

She then flattened and folded the bags, filling a brown paper bag for the Caring Angels organization, which uses the plastic bags to make sleeping mats for homeless veterans. The can tabs, which weighed a total of 39.4 pounds, will be donated to the Hallie Orme Thomas Society Children of the American Revolution, who are collecting them for the Ronald McDonald House. Greeting card fronts are to be sent to St Jude’s Ranch for Children (Hallmark, American Greetings or Disney cards are not to be saved because they are under copyright laws). 

To join the NSDAR, NSSAR and CAR lineage organizations, one must prove to be a direct descendant to one of America’s first veterans, the patriots who served during the American Revolutionary War between April 19, 1775 and Sept. 3, 1783. Patriots were colonists in the 13 original colonies who were against British control and fought for independence. They were volunteers who served in the Continental Army, Minutemen, militia and the Continental Navy.

Patriots were also individuals who served in multiple capacities such as statesmen, office holders, businessmen and writers and/or provided civil service and patriotic service in various ways such as signing allegiances and association tests, provided monetary aid, material aid and supplies to the military, paid a supply tax, etc.

Visit aguafria.arizonadar.org for more information.