Ever since someone stole $500 worth of recyclables from Truman Benedict Elementary School in San Clemente, acts of kindness have restored students’ faith in humankind – and their faith in their chances of winning a statewide recycling contest.

“I’ve got to tell you, I think we have a chance to win this competition,” Principal Charlotte Hibsch told a gathering of student volunteers Wednesday on campus. “We were on the edge before, but now this might send us over the top.”

The latest act of kindness came Wednesday from Terra Pacific Waste Management, an Anaheim-based company whose president read how a theft last month had cost the kids an estimated 64 large bags of recyclables with just two weeks left in the CalRecycle contest.

Terra Pacific’s president, Dale Menke, sent a truck to San Clemente to give the school a new 3-cubic-yard recycling bin stuffed with sorted plastic bottles and aluminum cans that the school can apply toward the recycling contest.

Terra Pacific field supervisor Edgar Sevilla presented the school with $250 to help recoup the PTA’s losses from the theft. Money earned from recycling helps stock Truman Benedict’s computer and science labs, helps with field trips and meets other needs.

On Tuesday, the PTA at San Juan Elementary School in San Juan Capistrano announced that this week’s collection of recyclables – dropped off at the school on Tuesdays – would be donated to Truman Benedict, which helped San Juan Elementary start its recycling program.

The contest began Oct. 15 and ends Tuesday. On Friday, Truman Benedict will have its last on-campus collection day of dropped-off recyclables before the contest ends. Last week’s collection was about 500 pounds – about double the norm. Hibsch credited it to publicity about the theft, which left the students believing their chances of winning had been dashed.

“We’re feeling a lot better,” Hibsch said. “This is amazing. We had a donation from a gentleman – he wants to be anonymous – from the Newport area. He gave us $500. We received $300 from a grandparent here – $100 for each grandchild. We received $50 from a family in the Saddleback area. They just read about it and decided to help. Isn’t that awesome?”

If you want to help, you can take recyclable cans and bottles – no glass – to the school’s curb at 1251 Sarmentoso, San Clemente, between 7:45 and 8:15 a.m. Friday. Questions? Call the school at 949-498-6617.

Terra Pacifica offered to carry it a step further. Anyone with recyclables to contribute can contact Sevilla at edgar@terrapacificwaste.com and he will arrange a truck to pick up the recyclables Monday to deliver to the school, a day before the contest ends.

SCHOOL VOICES

“It’s taught me about the good in people. We are actually overwhelmed by everyone’s generosity. Unfortunately, it started with the theft. But people have just really come out and supported our school.” Traci Tindall, recycling co-chairwoman

“It was just so amazing how quickly they could fill this bin back up. So many people are just so nice. One person’s not.” Mikayla Hartigan, fifth grade

“I was just sad when they took the recyclables. It was amazing how fast all the recyclables came in.” Jimmy Cusey, fifth grade

“It’s kind of sad how someone would take away from a school that’s just trying to help out their programs, when they really should be trying to help. It’s also really nice how other people try to help.” Amy Schultz, fifth grade

“It’s great to think that just everybody gave money to the school and helped with the bags.” Sidney Giles, fifth grade

“It was really bad that they did that. It was also good in some ways, because people wanted to really help and get us back into the race so that we have a chance to win the contest.” Connor Haddad, fifth grade

Contact the writer: fswegles@ocregister.com or 949-492-5127

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