The caring spirit of a 4-year-old Tucson girl has touched the heart of strangers.
Last summer, Annalise Lujan began collecting pop tabs to be donated to the Ronald McDonald House. She had collected about 3,000 when she was featured March 14 in the Star.
Several Star readers were moved by her story and have donated pop tabs, helping grow Annalise's stash to more than 70,000.
"We are so proud of her, that such a young person made such an impact in the community," said Maryann Estrada Lujan, Annalise's mother.
Star reader Alex Liebeskind bought 2,000 pop tabs on eBay for Annalise, hoping to help with her project, he said in an e-mail.
Harry Sanchez, an Air Force reservist assigned to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, gave Annalise more than 5,000 pop tabs that his father - who died in June - collected for years.
The New Mexico Department of Public Safety police officer returned home to search for the tabs after learning about Annalise.
"I was moved by the story and remembered my father used to collect pop tabs," Sanchez said. "I came back to Las Cruces with a mission to find the pop tabs. To my amazement I found them and they are quite a few."
On Friday, he met Annalise and her mother to deliver his donation.
Co-workers at the base started collecting the pop tabs when he told them about Annalise.
"It was neat such a young girl has such a caring heart," Sanchez said.
Estrada said people have been dropping off pop tabs at her office; others have brought them to Annalise's school.
Residents from one Tucson nursing home donated 2,000 tabs to Annalise, said Estrada, whose relatives in Arivaca also received pop tabs from neighbors after they read the story.
"(Thursday) we just got a big garbage bag full ... I think it had like 20,000," Estrada said. "We got like 20 pounds from Rita Ranch Market too, that's like 30,000."
Recently, Annalise had an "Ice Cream Presentation" at Pima Community College West Campus, where her grandmother works. She gave a little speech and served ice cream as she solicited pop tabs.
For months Annalise has worn a bracelet and a necklace made with a nylon string and pop tabs to get people's attention. When people asks her about her unique jewelry, she tells them she wants to help others.
She is eager for her birthday on April 18 - the day she'll deliver the pop tabs to the Ronald McDonald House.
"I'm happy to help other kids," Annalise said. "I wanted them to feel better."
"We are so proud of her, that such a young person made such an impact in the community."
Maryann Estrada Lujan, mother of Annalise Lujan
Contact reporter Mariana Alvarado at 573-4597 or malvarado@azstarnet.com
