Piggy banks were emptied, couch cushions were turned upside down and vacation jars of coins were cashed in.It was all part of the ìCoin Craze,î a holiday effort by students, parents and staff at Scandia Elementary School to help make Christmas a bit merrier and brighter for residents of the Forest Lake Area School District who are in need.
This yearís program marked the second year of the Coin Craze project coordinated by the schoolís student council, said Emily Ziemer, a teacher and student council advisor.
ìThe Coin Craze is a way to make the season brighter for less fortunate kids and their families in our area,î Ziemer said.
Last year, the students gathered just under $850 and used it to purchase presents and gift cards for the Giving Tree at Wal-Mart in Forest Lake. This year the drive has far exceeded the 2002 effort.
When all was said and done this year, students had brought in just under $1300 to use for the holiday giving project.
Last Friday saw Ziemer and student council members at Wal-Mart where they selected gift cards from the Giving Tree and set about an organized gift buying mission. After some 90 minutes of shopping, the students capped their afternoon with a meal at McDonalds.
Planning for the 2003 Coin Craze began several weeks ago when posters and containers were prepared.
Every classroom at Scandia Elementary was given a bucket or jar to keep their coins in. Student council members encouraged their classmates to contribute and reminders were broadcast over the morning TV news program on SENN.
While students were raiding their piggy banks and searching the cushions and chairs at home for loose change, some classrooms engaged in friendly wagers to see which class could raise the most money.
Ziemer said one family decided to empty their ìvacation jarî and brought in over $140.
Another student asked each of his family members to contribute their age in coins. The student came in with over $20.
Yet another student, on the first day of the week-long event, brought in a zip-lock bag of coins totalling nearly $45.
There were many $1, $5 and $10 bills stuffed into the buckets along with the coins, Ziemer said.
Ziemer praised the students for their energy and enthusiasm in working to make a successful program.
ìTheir enthusiasm for this project is contagious,î Ziemer said.
Ziemer said that thanks to the Coin Craze program, Christmas will be much merrier for a number of families in the area this year. She said she was amazed by the success of the program.
ìI never expected to see such generous gifts from single individuals, or to end up with a total near $1300,î Ziemer said. ìThis community is quite extraordinary.î
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