Pennies for Patients

One of our Character Traits is citizenship. What that means is that we do things for others. In December, we collect Dimes for December. The money is used to buy gifts for children in our community. In February, we collect Pennies for Patients. The money is used to support families heroically battling cancer. In March, we have our Soup Drive, collecting soup (and other foods) for the Milaca Area Food Pantry.

It is February. We are beginning our Pennies for Patients drive. As a community member, parent, and teacher, I have some questons (said with skepticism) ...










What is "Pennies for Patients?"
From the Pennies for Patients home page:

"More than 14.4million students and 10 million educators in almost 29,000 schools across the country are participating in The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) School & Youth Programs, Pennies for Patients, Olive Garden's Pasta for Pennies, and High School Program.

For the past 17 years students have shown how much of an impact they can have by raising more than $261 million to fund breakthrough therapies and patient services; and more than $28 million in 2013-2014 alone!

By participating, kids learn not only about the differences they can make, but they learn about leadership, teamwork, and what "doing good" for others can mean.

LLS exists to find cures and ensure access to treatments for blood cancer patients and leads the way in blood cancer research that has brought us to where we are today; saving thousands of patients lives every day."

You can learn more about the Pennies for Patients organization by visiting their website.

Where does the money go?

We had our first collection for Pennies for Patients at the end of last week. As an elementary school, we collected $929. Our second graders were the leaders with $200.

This is an important opportunity. Families in our community benefit. About ten years ago, in early November, one of my students missed an entire week of school. He kept getting more sick, even admitted to the hospital, until Princeton Hospital airlifted him to the Cities, and he was diagnosed with leukemia. He wasn't able to return to our classroom, his illness had him admitted for the remainder of the school year. The following school year, as he fought his battle, he benefited from the Pennies for Patients collection, and his face was on the posters in our school.

Mr. Meyer, our assistant principal was on announcements on Tuesday morning with siblings from another local family who benefits from this organization and their work.

Please check under those couch cushions, under the floor mats in your car, and check the collection from the laundry. We are collecting pennies and loose change until the end of February. Every penny counts!