Rain, sleet, snow or hail, one can be sure to see Penn State canners standing on their respective street corners and sidewalks four weekends out of the year.

Donning their metal cans and Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon banners, members of student organizations, sororities and fraternities withstand the elements in states ranging from New Jersey to Michigan to here in Pennsylvania in order to raise money for Thon.

"Canning is an excellent way to not only get students involved in the spirit of Thon, but also people from other states and in the area," overall Dance Marathon chairman Walt Breuninger said. "Students always seem to have a great time doing it."

The money raised from canning contributes to over 60 percent of the total Thon donation.

"Canning does raise a lot of money," Breuninger said. "But it is no more important than raising money door-to-door or the donations given by our corporate sponsors."

Many organizations that go canning do so in other states or at other points in Pennsylvania. Usually the guardians of a student involved in the organization will open their house for four or five students to stay at during a canning weekend.

Students then either disperse randomly over the area or go to a specified location — i.e. a certain street corner, mall or stadium — and attempt to get donations from strangers on the street.

"Sometimes we do get big donations, maybe $20," Kari Maloney, president of Delta Gamma said. "We also attempt to get pledges, who will be billed after Thon, by going door-to-door."

Some organizations experience difficulty when attempting to raise money.

"We had little luck last semester attempting to can," said Michael McGovern, member of Delta Kappa Epsilon. "We went to Harrisburg and store owners consistently told us to move on because of solicitation laws. It turned out to be very discouraging."

Matthew Krone, president of Zeta Beta Tau, cited similar problems in Bloomsburg due to a lack of permits to stand in front of stores. However, Breuninger does not foresee any decrease in the canning donation for 2001.

While canning, students must follow certain laws stated by the Thon rulebook.

"Students are not allowed to can in the middle of the street," Breuninger said. "It's dangerous and against the rules. Street corners and sidewalks are fine."

The money raised through canning will be placed toward the organization's total amount raised for Thon.

One hundred percent of the money raised goes to the Four Diamonds Fund, which uses the money to research the cure for and prevention of pediatric cancer. The Four Diamonds also provides financial assistance and emotional support for families with children being treated at Children's Hospital at the Hershey Medical Center.

Thon 2001, with the theme "Within Reach" will be held from February 16 to 18 in Rec Hall.