On the top of each pop can there is a listing of states and the amount the deposit is worth in each state. This is on the plastic part above the label also on plastic 2 liter bottles and smaller. What we did was go to New York just across the line to a grocery store there...you can literally put can after can/bottle into a machine and it keeps a tally of how many you put in. When you are all done it prints out the amount you are to receive. Then you just go into the grocery store and cash it in. We would get nearly 100 each time we went. Think about it...only 20 discarded cans/bottles makes a dollar. AND you are saving the environment from the stuff going into a land fill!! In Washington state there are grants available. Check this out... AWL Charitable Foundation 275 Pine Forest Road Goldendale, WA 9820-three,three (my three won't work on the keyboard) 07. 509-77 three-six one four one (now my other buttons won't type numbers) Sorry. Contact person is Robert E. Morrow, Tr. They provide grants to individuals. You only have to write a letter...no deadlines. You also might want to look up Barbara Burke's site of Angelfire. She is from Washington state and has lots of great ideas for fundraising as well as grants. For the cans/bottles which do not have the 5 cent deposit...these can be crushed and taken for recycling according to their aluminum weight. Copper is very valuable so you are on the right track there. If you get the community effort into it...it is unbelievable how fast the money is available...keep it going to pay fee after fee until you are done. And...you will get an adoption done WITHOUT a loan. I wish you all the best. Please keep in touch...Karen Asche
gkasche@usachoice.net Make sure your husband checks with his employer...many employer's have adoption money in the contract and you don't know if you don't ask.