Kids Collect Pounds of Pennies for Charity

The best way to honor Abraham Lincoln’s birthday, Tami Schwartz figured, is to collect his likeness. In other words, lots and lots of pennies.

Students at Arminta Street Elementary School--where Schwartz teaches fourth grade--have been putting pennies into glass jars in each classroom for several weeks.

Today, on Lincoln’s birthday, the proceeds will be counted, cashed in and given to the Starlight Foundation, a Los Angeles charity that helps children who are terminally ill or facing long hospital stays. Although the final tally will not be available until this afternoon, Schwartz estimated the children collected between $100 and $300.

The goal of the project was to combine lessons about Lincoln with community awareness. “It’s great for them to get an idea of what it’s like to make a donation at their age,” Schwartz said.

Statistically, the North Hollywood neighborhood around Arminta Elementary is far from affluent. That did not deter Schwartz; in fact, it made the penny idea work.

“They gave what they could,” she said. “They all knew it was for kids connected with the foundation, and that gave them something to relate to.”

The student council, which Schwartz oversees, will roll and count the pennies today. Then comes the hard part.

“No one wants to take our pennies!” the teacher said. “That’s the toughest thing about all this. I’ve called everywhere. The only place so far is Brink’s [Inc.], so I guess I’ll take them there.