Crab Orchard Girl Scout troop 211 collected a thousand plastic lids for what they thought was a worthy cause but the program turned out to be a hoax. From left to right: Natalie Hays, Callie Mainer, Autumn Scott, Sara Lee, Shelby Napier, Jenna Fletcher, Madison Fletcher and Keelee Baker.
Crab Orchard Girl Scout Troop 211 collected at least a thousand plastic lids for what they were told was a good cause. A volunteer at Crab Orchard Elementary School has a grandson attending school in Ohio who was collecting lids to donate to a hospital in exchange for free chemotherapy treatment for children. When Troop Leader Christina Napier heard about the collection, she decided that the Girl Scouts could be of help.
Sadly, this program does not exist and has been a hoax circulating the nation since 2008. A statement on the American Cancer Society website said that “After extensive research, the American Cancer Society has concluded that the Plastic Bottle Caps for Chemo Program is a hoax.”
The Cincinnati Children’s Medical Center, where the lids are supposed to be donated, also had no knowledge of the program. “I haven’t heard of this program and am not aware of anything going on with the girl scouts,” Terry Loftus, the senior director of media relations for the children’s hospital, said.
No one is exactly sure when or where this myth started, but some think that it originated in West Virginia. Any plastic lid was collected, from bottle caps to shaving cream lids, all of which have no monetary value. They are not the type of plastic that is recycled for profit. Either way, many organizations have collected thousands of lids only to find out that they are worthless.
“We addressed this program as one of several myths that we have come across,” Busola Afolabi, media relations manager for The American Cancer Society said. “If they want to check the validity of a program, they can call 1-800-227-2345 or check the website.”
Sadly, this program does not exist and has been a hoax circulating the nation since 2008. A statement on the American Cancer Society website said that “After extensive research, the American Cancer Society has concluded that the Plastic Bottle Caps for Chemo Program is a hoax.”
The Cincinnati Children’s Medical Center, where the lids are supposed to be donated, also had no knowledge of the program. “I haven’t heard of this program and am not aware of anything going on with the girl scouts,” Terry Loftus, the senior director of media relations for the children’s hospital, said.
No one is exactly sure when or where this myth started, but some think that it originated in West Virginia. Any plastic lid was collected, from bottle caps to shaving cream lids, all of which have no monetary value. They are not the type of plastic that is recycled for profit. Either way, many organizations have collected thousands of lids only to find out that they are worthless.
“We addressed this program as one of several myths that we have come across,” Busola Afolabi, media relations manager for The American Cancer Society said. “If they want to check the validity of a program, they can call 1-800-227-2345 or check the website.”
