WALB is working to produce a video for this story. In the meantime, we encourage you to watch our livestream.

BAINBRIDGE, Ga. (WALB) - Maria Granados and her family are asking the community to help donate pop tabs for her 17 year-old son, Joel Granados.

Joel has Charcot-Marie-Tooth, which causes significant muscle weakness, also known as CMT Disease, according to Maria. While battling CMT Disease, Joel also has severe scoliosis. Joel is scheduled to undergo major back surgery on May 13 in hopes of correcting his scoliosis.

Due to his upcoming surgery and recovery needs, the Granados family will be staying at the Ronald McDonald House in Atlanta until his surgery is complete.

The family is asking the community to help them by saving pop tabs from soda cans, food cans and pet food cans. Maria said the tabs are donated to Ronald McDonald House, and contributions will help provide the family with internet access for work, medical coordination and a place to keep families together during medical crises.

The Ronald McDonald House provides hot meals and a kitchen, which lowers the cost for parents while they have to be in the hospital away from their home.

“For example, we have to be there two months, that would be two months of myself and my husband buying breakfast, lunch, dinner, out of our own pocket,” Maria Granados said. “We are already dealing with a lot while we are up there at the hospital, worrying about our bills being paid back at home. So with them doing this, we don’t have to worry about it.”

Pop tabs may seem small, but they will make a major difference for the Granados family during this time.

For those who would like to drop off pop tab donations, a collection box is located at Bainbridge Pharmacy in Bainbridge. Collections will end on May 8, according to Maria.

Have a news tip or see an error that needs correction? Let us know. Please include the article’s headline in your message.

To stay up to date on all the latest news as it develops, follow WALB on Facebook and X (Twitter). For more South Georgia news, download the WALB News app from the Apple Store or Google Play.

Copyright 2026 WALB. All rights reserved.