Pennies from Heaven / Your Change Can Change A Life
Pennies from Heaven / Your Change Can Change A Life
Students at Assumption College School underwent their annual “Pennies for Heaven” campaign during the month of December, which had great results. The students collected $11,495 during the three weeks of the campaign, which exceeded the school-wide goal of $11 000. The campaign is based on students and teachers donating money out of their spare change. The idea is to give essential necessities and forms of comfort to families that are most in need. One of the students in charge of the campaign, Courtney Mori, explained why this campaign is important to the Lion’s Den: “Pennies for Heaven is a great cause because the money goes to students directly in our school.” The entire school becomes a part of it, as classes compete against each other for a chance to win a prize called the “Golden Pig”.
Modern Languages Department Head Madame Berardi was this year’s winner, however all classes did their part. Some held bake sales, others had competitions, but truly the majority of the funding came from the students’ generosity. Co-School Prime Minister Heather Watts was one of the other key organizers for this campaign. Said Watts: “(The campaign) contributes to the Christmas spirit at our school, the generosity is overwhelming.” During the holiday season, Chaplain Wayne Lachapelle organized a list of those that need assistance. This year 38 families were helped. Then, he along with other Assumption students prepared food baskets to last the families well beyond Christmas, mixed in with food vouchers and gifts for Christmas. The idea is not to simply give these families a Christmas dinner, but to ensure they have enough for well beyond Christmas. As Chaplain Wayne explained, it truly gives perspective to the holiday season when the only Christmas a family may have is through the generosity of the students. There may be some that believe pennies and nickels are worthless, but assembled together they have the ability to do the incredible.
Written by: Derek Vollebregt
