When a small thing becomes massive

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 07/05/2018 (2735 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

In some ways, it’s been hard to keep tabs on Gwen Buccini in the last two decades because she’s been so busy volunteering her time in the community.

In other ways, there’s a lot of tangible evidence — not least a collection of specialized wheelchairs and the gratitude of the wheelchair recipients and their loved ones — that is testament to Buccini’s contributions through the Tabs for Wheelchairs campaign, which Buccini created in 1998 at Holy Cross in St. Boniface, where she was a teacher.   

This year, the campaign celebrates its 20th anniversary, and to celebrate the landmark occasion two specialized wheelchairs will be awarded — one will be given to the Manitoba Wheelchair Sport Association to be used by several participants in the organization’s basketball wheelchair programs, and one will be given to Marlon Jr., a student at Steinbach Regional Secondary School who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at birth and has spent his life in a wheelchair.

“It’s amazing how many people have made it their goal in life to help with the campaign,” said Buccini, who lives in River Park South.

“I know that anyone who has become involved feels heavily about what they’re doing. I know a lot of older people who are involved, and I know lots of children who are excited to help, too, as they get to be part of something big. A tab is a small thing, but when everyone gets together, it becomes a big thing.”

 
“We’ve only been able to achieve such success with the campaign because of the many, many people that have been part of it. I know everyone needs to feel good, and feel good when they’re doing something good, which I know has driven me. Personally, I can’t walk past a tab without picking it up,” she added.

Over the years, Tabs for Wheelchairs has continued to grow and receive donations from numerous schools, organizations, and companies, as well as countless individuals across the city and the province. In fact, the popularity of the campaign has grown so much that there will soon be a new drop-off location for the tabs.

Until June 1, individuals can drop off their tabs at Holy Cross School, located at 300 Dubuc St. The program will still be run out of the school, but space for storage of the tabs is no longer large enough for the amount of tabs now received, so as of July 1, community members will be able to able to drop off tabs at Trailblazers Life Choices Inc. at 1031 Autumnwood Rd. in Windsor Park. Trailblazers is a non-profit agency for adults living with disabilities that offers opportunities for volunteer work, recreation, personal development, and employment. The individuals at the organization will be bagging the tabs, which makes the new location a perfect fit, Buccini said.

This year’s campaign is also massively significant for Buccini in another way. Last year, Buccini’s son, Anthony, died shortly before the 2017 wheelchair presentation.

Buccini said Anthony, who had special needs, was her main helper when it came to sorting the tabs.

“He was my main man,” Buccini said. “This was something the two of us could do together. It gave Anthony a sense of purpose, and it was something he could do and feel good about doing. I know Anthony was here for a purpose, and I know this uplifted him.”

Health permitting, Buccini said she hopes to continue spearheading Tabs for Wheelchairs into the future.

“It’s such a part of me,” she said.

After doing a few general calculations, Buccini estimates she has overseen around 350 million tabs in the last 20 years.

She is grateful to everyone who has helped along the way, including her technical support network that includes St. Boniface Bag, which supplies the bags for the tabs, YRC Reimer, which transports the tabs, and Western Scrap Metals, which recycles the tabs. 

 
“I’m so thankful to everyone who made this so successful,” Buccini said.

Email tabsforwheelchairs@hotmail.com for more information.