BENSON, N.C.-- A group of West Johnston High School students Saturday will collect can tabs at a local grocery store for families living at the Durham Ronald McDonald House during the holidays.

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The project is part of a community service competition known as SkillsUSA, according to their advisor, Todd Thibault. The vocational club provides "opportunities for students to learn leadership qualities." This is their second year working with charitable organization.

"The girls are working with five local schools to collect all of the can tabs in the area to help local and national families to have a place to stay," Thibault said.

Currently, families staying at the Ronald McDonald House are asked to make a daily $10 donation, but often cannot afford to do that. The aluminum can tabs collected, which will be traded in for cash, "have been a great way to raise money" needed for that voluntary donation.

And this year, the students also are focusing their efforts on collecting gifts for teens staying at the house, said 16-year-old Meredith Tart, an 11th-grader at West Johnston.

"We really want to make sure we include the teenagers," Tart said. "They need Christmas as much as the little ones."

The students once a month also will serve meals to families at the Ronald McDonald House, according Caitlin Hunnicutt, 16. The Durham organization provides food and shelter for families who are seeking local medical treatment for their children.

"We wanted to do this because so many of them can't go home for Christmas," Hunnicutt said.

So far, the SkillsUSA students have visited nearly a half dozen families from across the country staying at the house, according to Thibault.

"They thought it would be a really special thing to do," Thibault said.

On Saturday, the SkillsUSA students will collect tabs at the Food Lion in the 40/42 community, according to Katie Stover, 16. They also will accept unwrapped toys and other gifts for children ages 6 months to 18 years old.

"These kids are wonderful," Stover said. "That's our favorite part of this project."

Those toys and donations will be delivered to the Durham Ronald McDonald House on Dec. 22.