H.O.G. member’s collections making wishes come true By Julie Snyder ST. CLAIR SHORES — There’s a local man who, for the past 15 years, has been turning trash into cash, and bringing smiles to faces of countless children. Stanley the “Tabman,” a longtime member of the Great Lakes Southeast Michigan H.O.G. (Harley Owners Group) Chapter in Clinton Township, is a collector of just about anything that can be broken down and sold to Detroit-area scrap yards. From aluminum tea light candle holders and the aluminum peel-away seals on some food products to copper, steel, and brass, “Tabman” wants it. But obtaining these items isn’t as easy as it sounds. Since 1994, the St. Clair Shores resident has spent three days each week walking the streets of metro Detroit in search of items such as unwanted computers, televisions and vacuum cleaners, each of which house valuable copper wiring and steel pieces that can be turned into money and ultimately gifts to sick children or children in need. “It started off as just tabs back in 1994, and it just grew from there,” said “Tabman’s” wife, Jan. “It’s a lot of work what he does; a lot of work.” “Tabman” asked that his last name not be published to preserve the anonymity of his and Jan’s St. Clair Shores home, where thousands of pounds of recyclable materials are held, sorted, stripped down, and prepared for sale. “Tabman” is also given all types of metal from companies, local motorcycle groups and private individuals from all over the area, across the country and as far away as Australia. He frequently receives boxes of tabs in the mail from complete strangers. Chapter member Paul Warne said simple word-of-mouth has made “Tabman” famous. Some of the charities aided by the “Tabman” fund over the years include St, Clair Shores-based Wigs 4 Kids,, the Muscular Dystrophy Association, Rainbow Connection, and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Thanks to his efforts, in 2008 the local H.O.G. chapter was able to fund a 7-year-old cancer patient’s trip to Disney World. The entire group arrived on their Harley’s to deliver the gift to the girl and her family in Marine City. “He does what he does out of the goodness of his heart and that’s why we appreciate him so much,” said Warne. Earlier this month, chapter members loaded 11 pickup trucks and helped “Tabman” deliver 51 32-pound bags of tabs, as well as other metals equal to more than 6,800 pounds to a local scrap yard. They were able to garner $8,000 from the materials. Since he began, “Tabman” has raised more than $200,000 for local children’s charities. Chapter Director Dan “Dano” Milunovich said this amount is entered into a “Tabman” charity fund. This year’s funds will help up to 16 kids through the year. The chapter tries to provide $500 to each family or child. “His motivation is children,” said Milunovich. “And that shows what our group is all about. Just because we wear leather and have tattoos doesn’t mean we don’t care.” Milunovich said there are 600 members of the Great Lake Southeast Michigan H.O.G. Chapter. The group is the oldest in the state. “Tabman,” who also sells patches and Chrysler key rings to raise even more money, said the state of the economy has hit his efforts hard this year because of the decreasing value of many metals. “That’s about $2,000 lost for the kids this year and that really hurt me,” he said. But it won’t keep him from continuing his efforts for years to come. “I try and help whoever I can,” said Tabman, who recycled 1,760 pounds of tabs this month. “I’ll keep going and going and going. I like to help those kids out who can’t help themselves.” To donate items to “Tabman,” or to purchase a “Tabman” patch, write to the Great Lakes Southeast Michigan H.O.G. Chapter at P.O. Box 315, Eastpointe, MI 48021, or e-mail Dan Milunovich at dano458@aim.com. You can reach Staff Writer Julie Snyder at jsnyder@candgnews.com or at (586) 498-1039. |
