For three weeks, students at Stenwood Elementary collected change for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, as part of the "Pennies for Patients" program. As of April 4, $550 in pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters were collected, with jarfuls still left to count.
"It feels good to help others," said sixth grader Kimberly Nguyen, on why she volunteered with the program.
Fifth and sixth graders in the Kids in Action volunteer club sponsored the campaign, with each homeroom getting a box to deposit the change. The money came from students' allowances, as well as from under sofa cushions or from their parents' cars.
"It's helping a lot of kids with leukemia and a lot of other diseases, and it's going to help them find a cure," said sixth grader Margaret Goodnight.
Special education teacher Connie Burgess, whose classroom students used to count the change, said students responded enthusiastically.
"They love volunteering, they love helping others," Burgess said.
Founded in 1949, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society provides funding for blood cancer research, education and patient services. Its mission is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life for those suffering with those illnesses.