ANDERSON, Ind. — Pop tab donations to the Ronald McDonald House, in honor of Larry "The Can Man" VanNess, have now topped an astounding 30 million.
After death last year, the community started carrying on VanNess' legacy for charity, and one year after their first donation without him, they marked an incredible milestone.
In the season of giving, the special delivery made Wednesday at the Ronald McDonald House was especially impressive.
Volunteers brought bin after bin of pop tabs, all collected in honor of a man who spent his life giving back.
They're part of "Larry's Legacy."
"He really embraced being able to help the kids. It was always about the kids," said Rachel Landers, founder of Larry's Legacy. "Larry was never able to have a family of his own, so he always considered the kids that he helped to be his kids."
The local legend in Anderson spent nearly two decades collecting and donating pop tabs for the Ronald McDonald House.
Money from recycled tabs allows children and their parents to be close during hospital stays. They're able to stay at the Ronald McDonald House for free.
VanNess started the mission when someone challenged him to collect some can tabs, and things took off fast.
"He quickly made it a habit, and he had no idea what it was going to turn into over the years," Landers said.
Since so many people donated tabs, VanNess had his own garage at the Ronald McDonald House in Indianapolis.
Tab donations topped 26.5 million at the time of VanNess' death, following a car accident in October 2022.
However, the thing about the spirit of giving is that it doesn't end — it only grows.
When "The Can Man" passed away, caring from the community continued.
In just over a year, 3.5 million more tabs were collected in six different counties.
Wednesday's delivery marked 30 million total.
"It's because it's very easy to just pop that tab off and set it aside," Landers said, "and it really goes to help people in a big way! It makes people feel good."
Many people are still paying tribute to a man who put others before himself. That's why Larry's Legacy is still going strong.