Pennies for Peace – Students raise money for schools
Over the course of the last month, students at Cochran Elementary School provided hope for students on the other side of the world – one penny at a time.
During a Pennies for Peace campaign, students collected 32,817 pennies and $442.37 when it wrapped up the fundraiser on Dec. 11.
Pennies for Peace is a global service-learning program of the Central Asia Institute, a nonprofit organization that helps raise money to build schools in Afghanistan and Pakistan, according to the organization’s Web site.
“I wanted to do a service project with the students and read some books about the importance of helping others make a difference,” said Kristiann McQuown, a second-grade teacher at the school.
One of the books students read was “Listen to the Wind: The Story of Dr. Greg and Three Cups of Tea” by Greg Mortenson, co-founder of the Central Asia Institute.
After reading the book and learning about the organization, McQuown said the class decided to join the campaign, thinking it would “be a great way to help other children in need” overseas.
“The money we raised by collecting pennies will go toward building these schools and paying for school supplies, teacher salaries and educational costs,” she said.
Once the campaign started, pennies filtered in almost immediately from students in the entire school, she said, and couldn’t be counted fast enough.
“Students in my second-grade classroom counted the pennies as they came in each day. We also were given other coins and dollars as well,” she said. We kept track of the total amount of money earned, which was a great addition to our math curriculum.”
McQuown said her students were excited about the program and learned a lot on the importance of helping others.
One student Rosemary Flock, 7, said “it just warmed my heart – it felt so empowering when I help the kids in Afghanistan and Pakistan,” the student said.
Others like Isaiah Northern and Tyler Lowmiller, both 7, said it’s nice to know they can help students all over the world.
“When I helped others, I felt happy because I gave people pennies to build a new school so girls and boys can go to school to learn,” Northern said.
“We should help others because it makes that person feel better and you make a difference in the world,” said Samuel Mahler, 7.
McQuown said she was overwhelmed by the support the project received from all the students at the school.
“I never expected to collect as many pennies as we did,” she said. “It was a great project and I am glad that my students enjoyed taking part. I am very proud of them.”
The pennies were stored in large containers in McQuown’s classroom and parents have volunteered to come into the school to help roll them. They will be cashed and sent to the Central Asia Institute.
The students will be able to keep track of the progress of the organization’s efforts at www.penniesforpeace.org.
(c) Sun Gazette 2009
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