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Local students making change with penny harvest

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Contributed by: Erin Feese/YourHub.com on 11/14/2008

Eagle Ridge Elementary School students are learning that every little bit counts when it comes to giving back to the community.

On Nov. 11, the school held a kickoff assembly for the Penny Harvest program, encouraging students to collect pennies to contribute to the school's philanthropic fund. About 1,000 schools nationwide are currently participating in Penny Harvest.

Eagle Ridge's student senators and teachers have already been collecting pennies. During the assembly, they placed bags of pennies on a table that at one point threatened to collapse under the weight.

Classrooms have been discussing problems that face people in the community and identifying programs that could benefit from donations, said Lisa Tait, Eagle Ridge teacher and student senate advisor.

Once contributions are collected, students will debate and decide how the money is spent. The student senate will ask organizations to make applications for grants and will award grants based upon merit and the availability of funds.

"I think Penny Harvest is a great project, and I am anxious to see how many pennies you are able to collect," said Lone Tree Mayor Jim Gunning, who attended the assembly.

"Community service is important to all of us," Gunning said. "It's important to learn and understand more about community service when you're young, so you are more likely to be involved in community service as an adult."

Janie DiDonna, parent of fifth-grader and student senator Katie DiDonna, said Katie has been so excited about the project that she set up a jar at the family restaurant to collect donations.

"People will ask, 'What's this for?' and she'll talk to the customers and explain all about the project," DiDonna said. "She's has been collecting about $4 to 5 a day."

The school's goal is 100,000 pennies, or $1,000, said Tait. She said she estimates with contributions from the student senators and teachers, the school already has about $400, so she is hopeful they can exceed that goal. Pennies will be collected through Dec. 11.

For more information abou the Penny Harvest program, go to www.commoncents.org.

How To Help
Donations of pennies can be dropped off through Dec. 11 at Eagle Ridge Elementary, 7716 Timberline Road, Lone Tree, and at DiDonna's A Taste of Naples restaurant at Lincoln Avenue and Yosemite Street, Lone Tree.

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