COMMUNITY MEMBERS INVITED TO DONATE

Pennies have value.

That's one of the lessons Bluffton elementary students are learning this month as pennies and other coins are collected for a Pennies for Peace service learning project.

There are other lessons to be learned, too. The pennies collected will go to Central Asia Institute, founded by Greg Mortenson, author of "Three Cups of Tea: One's Man's Mission to promote peace...One School at a Time."

According to Beth Raeburn, third grade teacher who is in charge of the project, "We are asking students, teachers and staff to donate pennies during December and part of January. The money collected will go to Pennies for Peace. The money will be used to provide school supplies, pay teacher salaries, and build schools for children in Pakistan and Afghanistan."

Over 100 schools have already been built by the Institute.

"As our students participate, we hope they will broaden their cultural horizon and come to understand their own capacity of philanthropists," said Raeburn. "We hope they will learn to share and work together to become members of a global family dedicated to peace, one penny at a time."

Raeburn points out that this project is not limited to elementary students. The Bluffton community is invited to participate.

Community members may donate. An envelope for staff and community members is located in the elementary office. The deadline for contributing is Jan. 14.

Raeburn became interested in this project after reading "Three Cups of Tea" this summer. This school year each elementary teacher has read "Listen to the Wind," to elementary classes. That is a children's book about the project.

To make the penny collection more involving, Donor Days are Friday at the school.

"We thought an emphasis on donating on these special days would help keep momentum going," said Raeburn. "If a student or staff member brings pennies to donate on Fridays, they may participate in wearing or doing something 'extra' on these days," she said.

Here's the Donor Friday opportunities:
Dec. 10 - Dress like Mr. Closson
Dec. 17- Twin Day
Jan. 7 - Mismatched clothes
Jan. 14 - Crazy hair day