No one knew what Ruth Hana was doing when she'd jump into a dumpster and pull out cans, only to pull the pop tabs off and throw the cans back in the trash. She was a 91-year-old woman; it was odd, to say the least.
Little did these people know that Ruth's collection would help (and change) many lives.
Ruth's Actions Confused Onlookers
When Ruth dug through the trash and hopped into dumpsters without a second thought, on-lookers were confused about her intentions. The 91-year-old wasn't homeless, and people around town knew who she was. Yet, no one thought to stop and ask the older lady what she was doing.
They'd soon find out.
No One Asked Why
Each day, Ruth made it her mission to sift through as much garbage as she could. Her hope was to find cans - soup, soda or other food - that had a pop tab. No one knew why the older lady was so hyper-focused on finding these tabs, and Ruth didn't humor them with the "why," since no one asked.
This wasn't a new development. Townspeople watched the elderly woman for years as she hopped into dumpsters and searched through other's trash. They were confused, and some were even grossed out. However, Ruth knew what she was doing and why she was doing it.
The 91-Year-Old Was Alone Most of Her Life
Ruth had no issues with people staring at and judging her. She'd been alone most of her life and was used to the leering.
Even so, she was oddly thankful for her lonely years growing up. Anything different, and Ruth wouldn't be the person who jumped into dumpsters - and for a good reason!
Ruth Wasn't Going to Just Sit Around
Even though Ruth knew what she was doing was important and would pay off in the end, it didn't stop people from giving her disapproving looks. Some even went as far as to tell her, "You're too old to be doing anything like this."
Comments like that made the 91-year-old shake her head. Just because she was old didn't mean she had to sit around all day doing nothing.
From a House to a Retirement Home
Eventually, Ruth moved out of her home and into a retirement house. The facility was nice, and the staff was understanding when Ruth brought along her large collection of tabs. She was grateful they allowed her collection, as it was against the rules to have so much clutter in a room.
While the retirement home was comfortable, the 91-year-old missed going out. She missed her freedom. Just because she was confined to the home's grounds didn't mean she was going to give up her mission.
The 91-Year-Old Would Count Her Findings Each Day
Each day, Ruth would go through the trash, collecting more and more tabs. At the end of the day, she'd sit in her room and count all of the tabs she'd collected, before adding them to the boxes, jugs and other holding containers she had littered over her room.
Just as the townsfolk were, the workers and residents of the retirement home were confused as to why the 91-year-old was so fascinated with collecting pop tabs.
Ruth Collected One Million Tabs
Ruth was eager to get to one million pop tabs. When she finally found the last one to add to her collection, everyone at the retirement home gathered around to witness her success.
Even while they were cheering her on, the onlookers were more than eager to learn what it was all for. Still, Ruth didn't tell anyone what the huge collection was for or why she'd went through all that trouble to find the tabs. It had taken years; she wasn't about to brag about it.
But after all the judgment and mean looks, she'd finally completed her mission and was ready to hand the tabs off.
Load Them On Up!
All Ruth did was smile at her collection. Then, she went back to her room, put on her shoes and grabbed a jacket. Afterward, she asked the retirement home staff if they'd help load the boxes of pop tabs into the facility's van. They were eager to help, if for no other reason than the clutter would finally be gone.
But they were still curious as to why, after all this time, she wanted rid of the tabs. It seemed like the bits of metal were important to the lady. Why would she give them up?
Ruth Gave the Driver an Address
Once all of the tabs were in the van, Ruth handed the driver a tiny piece of paper. It had an address written on it and, soon, Ruth's actual mission with her collection would be complete.
Along with two staff members, the driver took off to the address, wondering what was in store when they got there.
The Mysterious Man in a Suit
The driver pulled up in front of a large building. Everyone was confused as to why they were there - well, everyone except Ruth. The 91-year-old had made an appointment and knew they were expecting her.
That's when a man dressed in a suit walked out the front door, walked to the van and inquired about if she was Ruth. He took her hand and said, "Mrs. Hana, so great to finally meet you."
The Ronald McDonald House Charity
The man got very emotional once he saw the sheer number of pop tabs the 91-year-old had brought along. As it turns out, Ruth was donating her entire collection to the Ronald McDonald House Charity, which helps facilitate programs for families with children in need - namely, those with an illness.
The question, though, was why?
Ruth's Childhood Influenced Her Charitable Nature
As it turned out, this wasn't the first time Ruth had taken it upon herself to help those in need. She often donated to charity, and she helped out where she could. The Ronald McDonald House, however, held a special place in her heart. She held the organization close because of her own childhood.
Ruth grew up an orphan and never knew the comfort of having someone around when she was lonely, scared or sick. As such, she wanted to ensure no child would ever feel that way and began collecting tabs to help the nonprofit organization.
The Ronald McDonald House Charity Collects Tabs
It still begs the question: why did Ruth take it upon herself to collect one million pop tabs? What could they possibly be used for to help children?
Well, the Ronald McDonald House Charity actually collects pop tabs. By themselves, the aluminum tabs aren't worth very much, but when you add together the one million Ruth brought in, they equate to a pretty penny.
The charity collects the tabs and brings them to a local recycling plant, where they're traded in for money. These funds go toward facility expenses, support programs and to help sponsor programs.
"It Makes You Look Beyond Yourself..."
The Ronald McDonald House Charity is highly-regarded. When asked about the organization, one of the residents at Ruth's retirement home spoke very highly of it, explaining, "They operate totally on volunteers and donations, and when you look at what Ronald McDonald House does, it makes you look beyond yourself to help somebody else."
They then spoke about Ruth and her mission. "It is giving her something to do. She feels like she is contributing, and it is important for an older person to have a purpose in life - a reason. It is important as you get older to look beyond yourself," they said.
Ruth Almost Fell Into the Dumpsters a Few Times
Speaking to a Milwaukee news station, Ruth joked about her dumpster diving and why she finds it so important to give back to the community. She said, "I know when I went to Miller Park, it's really funny; sometimes I would almost fall down into those dumpsters."
Even so, she always knew there was extreme value in what she was doing.
"It's Not What You Get; It's What You Give That Counts"
Ruth continued in the interview, explaining what it was like to grow up in an orphanage without a family.
She shared, "Christmas would come, and I would cry that I had nobody to celebrate with. My birthday came and passed, same thing... It's not what you get; it's what you give that counts."
Certificates and Thank You Letters
Ruth actually spent most of her adult life helping children, something that became abundantly clear when she and the staff returned to the retirement home.
There, the 91-year-old showed the staff her various certificates and thank you letters from over the years. She had made so many donations to charities that the city even declared a Ruth Hana Day on 12 separate occasions!
Giving Back to the World
However, Ruth wasn't in it for the recognition. She just wanted to make sure the children were as comfortable as possible, so she hid the letters in a box under her bed.
She wasn't one to show off. Giving back was all Ruth wanted to do, regardless of if people recognized her work or not.
Ruth Started Something Big
After finding out Ruth was collecting the pop tabs for charity, the entire retirement home decided to join in on her cause. Eventually, they began collecting tabs!
One staff member said, "I'm sort of amazed at how these tabs have taken off. It has gone out into the community, and I'm just tickled that Ruth has gotten into this. It has given her something to do and made her feel useful."
Ruth Didn't Stop After the Tabs Were Handed Off
Even after donating her collection to the Ronald McDonald House Charity, Ruth didn't stop. After transferring the pop tabs, she was back hopping into dumpsters, searching for more whenever she had the chance.
She's an amazing example of doing something so simple to help children in need.
Ruth Made Her Own Family
Even though Ruth grew up never knowing what it was like to have a family, she has since made her own.
Those who benefited from her generosity have wanted to meet their guardian angel. According to Ruth, "The mother[s] are just overwhelmed. They're kind of my family."
More Frequent Donations
With Ruth's focused attitude and, now, the help of her fellow retirement home residents, she was able to collect more and more pop tabs. The sheer about of help allowed Ruth to make more frequent donations to the Ronald McDonald House Charity.
Needless to say, no one was about to give Ruth another weird look when she hopped into a dumpster to search for cans!
Meet Ortha Anders: Another Senior With a Unique Hobby
It was just a normal day at the bank when Otha Anders walked in, pulling behind him a dolly. Perched on top were water jugs full of coins: pennies he had found on the street and collected throughout the years.
Things had certainly just gotten interesting. The banker stared at Otha, not entirely sure what to do, so she asked, "How many are there?"
The 73-year-old had no idea.
Otha Was a Family Man
Otha was a family man with a loving wife and children who supported him in every venture. He worked on the Jackson School Board, watching over the children who found themselves in a bit of trouble with in-school suspension.
Otha loved his life, even if his side hobby made people think he was a little quirky.
The 73-Year-Old Enjoyed Picking Up Pennies
Picking up pennies off the street had gone from being a little something fun to being a fully-fledged obsessive hobby for Ortha. He loved finding the little coins lying on the ground.
To him, it was a reminder to always be thankful for what he had in his life, such as a roof over his head and his family.
The Hobby Had to Do With His Faith
During an interview, Otha explained his hobby, saying, "I became convinced that spotting a lost or dropped penny was an additional God-given incentive reminding me to always be thankful.
"There have been days where I failed to pray and more often than not, a lost or dropped penny would show up to remind me," he continued.
Otha had always been a religious man, but his faith had soared to an all-time high in recent years. He believed each penny he found on the ground was a gift from God. Little did he know that his fortunes were about to soar a whole lot higher when he finally decided to cash in his coins.
A Single Time Turned Into a 45-Year-Long Hobby
When Otha picked up his first penny off the ground, nothing in him knew it would be a habit that would follow him for another 45 years. Even so, he started picking up and keeping each penny he found.
Not only that, but he stopped spending his own pennies that would come to him in the form of change! Everything went straight into his collection.
He Didn't Stop At Picking Pennies Off the Ground
There was more to the change, however. Whenever Otha purchased something at the store with cash, he made sure the cashier returned his change with at least three to four pennies. The more, the merrier!
It became a quirky habit that stuck with him and helped his collection grow throughout the years. During an interview, the 73-year-old discussed his obsession, saying, "I would never spend a penny. I would break a dollar before giving up a penny."
That is some pretty wild love for the copper coin!
No One Questioned Ortha's Quirky Habit
The penny collecting became such a normal occurrence that Otha's friends and family didn’t even question it anymore. They knew that if he was buying something to expect some one-cent coins to come out of the equation.
When Otha's students found out he collected pennies, they wanted to help. Kids would come up to him with handfuls of coins, offering them up to his ever-growing pile - but he didn't take them. According to Otha, he had rules and principles when it came to his penny collection.
Compensating People Who Gave Him Pennies
When people did give him pennies, Ortha didn't let them do so without any compensation. He explained, "I never allowed anyone, not even my wife nor children, to give me pennies without being compensated."
So it sounds like he actually paid people who gave him pennies! What a funny concept.
15 Five-Gallon Water Jugs Filled With Pennies
Between the pennies he found on the ground, the change he received at stores and the pennies people gave him, Otha's pile grew higher and higher. After 45 years passed, he'd amassed 15 five-gallon water jugs of pennies! He couldn't even begin to guess how many there were.
Otha guessed there were maybe hundreds of thousands of coins. But, when it came down to it, he really had no idea how many were in the multiple piles, and he wasn't planning on slowing down collecting anytime soon!
Otha Didn't Want to Stop His Collection
It took Otha 45 years to collect enough pennies to fill the 15 five-gallon water jugs, and he was planning on filling many more if he had his way.
Unfortunately, the universe had a different idea.
The Home Insurance Company Had Other Ideas
Otha believed he'd amassed a small fortune with his collection. As such, he'd wanted to file it under his home insurance. The thing is, when the 73-year-old went to renew his house insurance to include the pennies, they turned him away.
However, Otha wanted the home insurance, so he decided it was time to finally cash in his prized collection.
The Five-Gallon Jugs Could Hold Something Rare
Ortha really didn't know what to expect when he brought the pennies to the bank. He remembered reading a story about someone who'd cashed in on their coin collection, resulting in a small fortune, but that included a wide variety of coins, not just pennies.
Only time would tell how much money the 73-year-old had accumulated over the years.
Was An 'Error Penny' in One of the Jugs?
If Otha had the time to go through each of his 15 five-gallon water jugs, he might have found some rare gems hidden among the coins, such as the 1943-S Lincoln Wheat penny - an "error coin."
Over time, these coins go up in value, meaning Otha's collection had the potential of increasing in worth if it had been handed down through the generations. Unfortunately, he wasn't going to have that luxury.
The Chances of Finding An 'Error' Penny Were Slim
Otha didn't have time to go through each and every one of his pennies - and that was okay. The chances of him stumbling upon a penny with an error were slim to none.
Even so, he did have one thing working for him and that was the sheer amount of pennies he'd amassed throughout those 45 years.
Finally, He Was on His Way to the Bank
With Otha's mind made up, he now had to figure out how to actually get the coins to the bank! Thankfully, he had friends to help him. A good thing, too, because those 15 five-gallon water jugs were very heavy!
After he and his friends had gotten the jugs into a truck, Ortha was on his way to the bank. Now, it was just a matter of unloading them onto a dolly and wheeling them into the institution to be counted.
Otha had no clue what the final sum was going to be.
The Banker Had Just One Question
Rolling the dolly into the bank with the 15 five-gallon water jugs full of pennies, Otha got more than a few looks, especially from the banker who was going to help him.
Not entirely sure if she was going to turn him away, the 73-year-old was pleasantly surprised when she asked, "How many?" The teller stood there, not entirely sure what to do. It was definitely not a normal day at the bank, to say the least!
Otha Had Roughly Half a Million Pennies
When she asked Otha how many pennies he'd wheeled in, the teller was shocked when he said, "I would guesstimate about half a million pennies?" Half a million!
With so many coins sitting in front of her, the teller's answer was kind of warranted. She asked, "And you think we have the time to count half a million pennies for you?"
Who in the world has time to count half a million pennies when there are a lot of other things to do in the workday?
The Manager Got Involved
However, the teller didn't turn Otha away. Instead, she called over her manager to see if there was anything they'd be able to do for Otha and his penny collection. Ironically, when the manager walked out to see what was going on, his face lit up! He actually knew Otha very well.
It turns out the 73-year-old was a long and loyal customer of that particular bank branch, and the manager was more than happy to help him count out his collection.
"We value his business, as we do all of our customers," the manager said. "But if we can help Anders with his endeavors, we are happy to do so."
It Took Five Hours to Count the Pennies
Of course, the bank wasn't going to hand count the half a million pennies by hand. They took Otha and his friends to the coin counting machine and, with the use of an ax to bust open the five-gallon water jugs, got to work.
It wound up taking Otha a solid five hours to feed the pennies into the machine.
An Impressive Final Total
After five hours of putting pennies into the machine, a final sum flashed on the screen: Otha had saved a grand total of $5,136.14.
That's a savings of $114.14 per year! That’s a lot of money for pennies that were a mere afterthought for most people.
What Did Ortha Put the Money Toward?
Otha knew just what he wanted to do with his savings. After paying off a hefty dental bill that had just been handed to him, he took his family on a nice vacation and also donated some of the money to his church.
It looks like the 73-year-old's quirky hobby, patience and trust in his faith really did pay off!
