Northstar Junior High School students learned the power of a penny this spring when they raised more than $3,300 during the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's annual Pennies for Patients coin drive. They collected the equivalent of four miles of pennies in three weeks.
This year's Pennies for Patients fundraiser ran from March 5 through 23. During the school-wide coin drive, many of Northstar's 90 students donated their own money towards finding cures and improving the quality of life for blood-cancer patients and their families. Others went out into the community to collect funds.
Kendra Sjogren, a Northstar ninth- grader, was part of a team that spent more than 10 hours collecting coins outside a Safeway store in Juanita. "The most amazing moment was when woman who had survived leukemia came up to us while we were there," says Kendra. "She was so grateful that we were helping. It really made our day."
As a reward for their effort, the entire school will be treated to lunch, courtesy of the Olive Garden restaurant and Domino's Pizza.
According to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, millions of dollars have been raised in pennies and other spare change since 1994 by more than 10 million elementary, middle and high school students throughout the country. For more information about the Pennies for Patients program, visit www.schoolandyouth.org/school .
Annette Hamilton is a Northstar parent.<.i>[[In-content Ad]]
