The collection weighs three tons and contains 100 million pennies--$1,000,000. The collection was spearheaded by a group called Common Cents. Its purpose was to show children that while one penny may not be worth too much, all those pennies together amount to a great deal. Each school that participates in the drive decides how their pennies will be spent to help others. Some of the money is going to recognized national and local charities. Some of the funds are being used to help people in the school's home community who are in need of funds. One school is donating its funds to the family of a young boy who has been stricken with an exceedingly rare blood disease. Another is using some of its money in support of a local food pantry for the poor.
With all the negative reports we hear about the public schools it is heartening to hear about how some schools are doing well by doing good.
Makes you wonder what the results might be if some of the schools in Klal were to undertake a similar type of project. Not selling Purim Shalach Manos baskets, nor wine for Pesach nor any other "big ticket" items. No huge fanfare and complicated PR campaign. Not dollars, not quarters, not dimes, not nickels, but pennies. How better to illustrate that it truly can be the little things that count. I've said it more then once on this blog that you cannot have a dollar nor spend a dollar if even one penny is missing. As the article clearly illustrates, those pennies can add up. Nothing penny ante about the idea, just a whole lot of ante-ed up pennies making a difference.
No time to write more. I'm going to ferret out those gallon pickle jars full of "worthless" pennies that we have been saving for years. More then time to let them do something useful
3 comments:
Have you ever tried to get a bank to take your loose pennies? Almost impossible. I'd like to know which bank is going to change those pennies into the million dollars and then I'm heading there.
Anonymous,
I don't know which bank will change all those pennies, but Commerce Bank offers its customers free loose change return. You just dump it all into the machine for that purpose and out comes real paper money, with no limits on how much change you put in. I know because I just brought them $58 dollars worth of pennies this week.
Anonymous,
I don't know which bank will change all those pennies, but Commerce Bank offers its customers free loose change return. You just dump it all into the machine for that purpose and out comes real paper money, with no limits on how much change you put in. I know because I just brought them $58 dollars worth of pennies this week.
Post a Comment