Unique Penny Drive Fundraiser

by Lori
(Lamont, CA)

Every year we have a penny drive. What makes this drive different is that we are a Middle School. Our homeroom collects pennies. Because we switch periods (we have 8 periods daily) the 2nd through 8th periods are allowed to put silver or dollars into our container. The silver and/or dollars "cancel" the pennies out. Example: the 1st period/homeroom class puts in 100 pennies. 2nd through 8th period throws in silver and/or dollars which amout to $5.00. Although there is $6 in the jar, the homeroom is "in the whole" for $4. This goes on for two weeks. The students have a blast trying to make the other classes go negative. The class that raises the most "pennies" (the pennies that weren't canceled out with the silver or dollars) wins a pizza party. We raise about $600 a year. We give about $100 to the homeroom that raised the most pennies and we use the rest to buy food baskets for families (of our students) for Thanksgiving. We have had teachers raise $200+ and not be the winners!