It's the personal stories from passers-by that make braving cold weather and busy streets during a canning trip worth it for Melissa Cavaleri.

"As the father puts money in, he'll say, 'See the boy in the back? He's a survivor,' " Cavaleri (sophomore-public relations) said. "Little things like that give you motivation."

This weekend marks the first canning weekend to raise money for the 2006 Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon.

"Canning is the primary way we raise funds," Special Events Overall David Brownstein said.

"The first weekend sets the tone for the rest of the trips," he added.

Canning is when students travel to various destinations in neighboring states to collect money and spread awareness about Thon, Brownstein added.

Elissa Weinbach, Zeta Tau Alpha sorority Thon chair, said she is especially enthusiastic about the first canning trip with her sorority's Thon partner, Alpha Tau Omega fraternity, 321 E. Fairmount Ave.

"I'm really excited -- we usually have a lot of fun and some good stories when we get back," Weinbach said. "We get to know the boys and some of our newer members better."

Andreas Wiecks, a member of Kappa Delta Rho fraternity, 420 E. Prospect Ave., said the first canning trip of the campaign provides the most potential for fundraising.

"This weekend, we will raise a little more than next semester because it's not as cold and people are usually more willing to stop," Wiecks (sophomore-business) said.

Cavaleri added that the first trip's general success can also be attributed to the large number of participants.

"The first one is big because everyone is freshly into it -- it sets the stage," she said.

Michael Werstuik, financial overall, said that it is hard to project the amount of money that will be raised through canning.

"There are a lot of ways to fundraise; canning is just one way," he said. "But it's the most popular way to raise money."

Cavaleri said members of her sorority, Alpha Chi Omega, are expected to raise roughly $500 per person on one trip.

"I'm really excited to raise serious money and to get more interaction and going outside of Pennsylvania to spread the awareness," she said.

Canning provides much opportunity for the participants, just as it does for the kids who these trips are organized for, Brownstein said.

"You become an ambassador of Thon and Penn State and connect with outsiders," he said. "Hopefully, there are some nice people out there to help out the kids."