Pennies For Presents 2013 tally exceeds its $10,000 goal to help needy
Who says pennies are obsolete?
Not Cowichanians, who coughed up $10,560.49 in coppers during the News Leader Pictorial's annual Pennies for Presents campaign that ended last week.
While that tally dipped from last year's $17,300, office manager Kim Sayer was satisfied how locals dug deep again to help needy folks visiting valley food banks and other services that receive our Pennies proceeds.
"I'm happy we were able to reach our $10,000 goal for this year," Sayer said, applauding a volunteer rolling crew that occupied our boardroom during the past month or so.
"By asking for help, we receive it."
And how.
Locals regularly lug containers of all sizes and kinds — from coffee cans and Baggies to fruit jars — loaded with pennies into to our offices.
The Pennies drive sees $500 handed respectively to the Cowichan Salvation Army, Women Against Violence Against Women, and the Harvest House, Mill Bay, Lake Cowichan food banks.
"The rest goes to the Cowichan Food Basket, as we're their main fund raiser every year," she noted.
Student heroes hefting charity loot to the Leader included George Bonner Middle School, that gained about $1,000 in coppers, plus Alex Aitken school that added about $500, Sayer said.
While the campaign culminates at Christmas, it never really ends but simply rolls into the next year — as does local need.
That's why Sayer urged folks to continue dropping pennies, silver, cash and cheques at our offices year-round, during business hours.
"We'll still accept it."
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