Pulling Together
A Small Act of Kindness
Become Part of Something Larger
For years, Bishop Phyllis Spiegel has collected aluminum pull tabs in memory of Michael Sandridge, a young man who grew up alongside her daughter, Holland, in Sunday School. Michael died from testicular cancer at the age of sixteen, but his joy, kindness, and unmistakable smile left a lasting impression on those who knew him.
“Every tab has a smile attached to it.”
Pull Together With Us
Joining the effort is easy:
- Save the aluminum tabs from drink cans.
- Keep a small container in your kitchen, workplace, congregation, school, or community.
- Invite others to collect with you.
- When your container is full, bring the tabs to any Episcopal congregation in Utah.
The Diocese will make sure they are delivered.
A Life Remembered
Michael's Story
Michael Sandridge grew up in Sunday School alongside Bishop Spiegel’s daughter, Holland. Adopted from Romania as a young child, Michael faced significant challenges with a spirit marked by joy, kindness, and a love of laughter. He was diagnosed with testicular cancer and died at just sixteen years old. Those who knew him remember his strength, his love for his younger brother Matthew, and especially his unmistakable smile.
During Michael’s treatment, his family spent time at a Ronald McDonald House, where they were able to remain close to his medical care and focus on being together as a family. That experience inspired the tradition of collecting aluminum pull tabs in Michael’s memory. Today, each tab collected across the Diocese helps support the work of Ronald McDonald House Charities while carrying forward Michael’s legacy of joy and generosity.
A Ministry She Carries with Her
Wherever Bishop Spiegel travels across Utah, a jar or basket for aluminum pull tabs is often nearby. What began as a personal way to remember Michael has become a quiet part of her ministry as Bishop—an invitation to turn something easily discarded into a simple act of generosity.
Over time, people across the Diocese have joined her. Parishioners, congregations, Standing Committee members, and Diocesan Council members have collected tabs and brought them to the Bishop, sometimes with stories and memories of their own. For Bishop Spiegel, each contribution is a reminder that small acts of kindness, gathered together, can become something much larger.
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