Saturday, Aug. 9 has been designated Ronald McDonald House Pop Tab Day at the 2008 Mower County Fair.

Fair-goers will receive $2 off a carnival bracelet when they bring pop tabs to help children at the Ronald McDonald House.

The tabs will then be recycled by the Ronald McDonald House in Rochester and all the funds will help support the children and families who stay there this year.

Last year, pop tab donations raised more than $15,000 for the Rochester Ronald McDonald House.

Fair-goers can drop off their tabs from 1 to 5 p.m. at the East Main Gate off 12th Street Southwest on the fairgrounds in southwest Austin.

Volunteers from First United Methodist Church of Austin will greet them and accept the contributions.

Consumers may visit McDonald’s restaurants in Austin to request a pop tab collection house.

The Ronald McDonald House of Rochester is a “home away from home” for families who must travel hundreds, sometimes thousands of miles to seek medical treatment for their children.

The House provides shelter and support to families facing difficult days and long nights. Families who stay at the Ronald McDonald House share their stories and gain new insights as they meet children and parents with similar concerns.

More than 50 families from Mower County have stayed at the Ronald McDonald House since 2001.