Cans For Camp

May 18, 2009

Effie Tripp looking for cans with her dad.

by Cliff Judy (STERLING, Kan.)

Spend any length of time with 9-year-old Effie Tripp, and you're bound to hear a song or a random phrase...but never a complaint. Her third grade homeroom teacher is quick to tell you she has "the biggest heart of gold," and the girl's actions seem to reflect just that.

At least twice a week, Effie and her father, Doug, walk K-96 Highway near Sterling or other streets in town looking for aluminum cans to recycle. The walk usually covers two miles with Effie checking the ditch while Doug grabs any cans close to the road.

The can search started in January when Effie found out other children couldn't go to church camp last summer because their families couldn't pay for it.

"I heard some kids talking about it at church," says Effie. "They were really sad that they didn't get to go, and I'm like, 'You know what? That's okay because I want to help you.'"

This year, Effie hopes to raise enough money to send five other children to camp. If she reaches her goal this year, she plans to double it next year.

So far, she's raised $40 in donations and collected 19 bags of cans. Teachers at Sterling Grade School have also been saving cans for the girl. Effie's father says it's hard to put into words just how proud he is of his 9-year-old.

"How big of a heart at nine years old can just come up with something like this and put her whole heart into it?" Doug Tripp asks.

Effie is also planning a bake sale sometime in the next month.

If you'd like to find out how you can help, you can e-mail cansforcamp@hotmail.com.

If you have an idea of your own for a Brighter Side story, let us know about it at brighterside@kwch.com.

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