Written By David Gomez, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
MIDDLESEX COUNTY - A community-led initiative is underway across Middlesex County, aiming to collect tabs from pop and beer cans to raise funds for essential accessories for a new MRI machine set to be installed in Strathroy Middlesex General Hospital (SMGH) in the spring of 2025. Gordon Robbins, a resident of Melbourne, has taken the lead in this fundraiser.
The installation of the MRI itself is a monumental step forward in healthcare access for the county, but as Robbins points out, these additional accessories play a crucial role in making the MRI experience comfortable and effective. “We’ve got the MRI coming in, but there’s a lot of extras that it needs,” he said. “From headphones to specific foam rubber pieces, these make a difference for patients.”
Robbins has made it easy for people to join in this initiative. Approximately seven weeks ago, he distributed 160 collection buckets across Middlesex County, reaching towns like Strathroy, Glencoe, Mount Brydges, Komoka, and Delaware. Residents can easily spot these buckets in local businesses, schools, banks, restaurants, and even industrial plants’ lunchrooms. The buckets are also stationed in health units, and the SMGH Foundation office is open as a convenient drop-off location.
According to Robbins, no contribution is too small. “People can bring in any amount they want. Last night, I picked up 8,000 tabs from one house. They have been saving for four years!” Robbins has set an ambitious goal to raise between $5,000 and $10,000 over the year-long fundraiser, with donations already rolling in through small contributions, like single pop tabs, to larger hauls from community members who have been collecting for years.
Anyone wishing to support this fundraiser can contact Gordon Robbins directly via email at tinybeachesboy@life.ca or by phone at 226-378-5942. Whether it’s one pop tab or a bucketful, our community continues to demonstrate that even the smallest acts of kindness add up to make a substantial impact.
