FOX44NOW.COM - Burlington/Plattsburgh News, Weather and SportsCollecting Pennies For Port au Prince

Collecting Pennies For Port au Prince

Whether it's a nationally-televised telethon or through a text message, many people have pledged their support for Haiti relief.

Even in pennies!  And if you doubt whether pennies can really make a difference, just ask some Richmond Elementary School students.

"We encouraged kids to look under the couch cushions, and cleanout the car, and find as many coins as they could to bring in," Teacher Jane Spina said.

At that point it had been nearly a week since the earthquake in Haiti, and students were honoring Martin Luther King Jr.

"Our goal was to talk a lot about making a difference and people making a difference," Spina said.

She knew how the students could help earthquake victims, by collecting Pennies for Port au Prince.

Third grader Isabelle Hammond was on board.

"Because I wanted to help Haiti, everybody's trapped under rubble in cement," Hammond said.

"There were kids that said oh, I've been saving this money for Florida but I'll put this in for the Vermont Haiti Project," Spina said.

That's where the money will go, and in turn sent to the country.

"I thought we were gonna get like two jars full but we ended up with almost five," Hammond said.

In just five days, pre-school through fourth graders collected more than $4,062.65.

"We didn't expect $4,000 at all, no, it was quite a surprise," Spina said.

According to the Vermont Haiti Project, $25 dollars buys enough medicine to treat 50 children. But for these children in Richmond, it buys a lot more.

"There eyes were just so wide at how much money they collected and they start to realize how far that money can go, that will be the best lesson of all," Spina said.

Isabelle Hammond and her brother helped collect 182 pennies for the project.  Alexander and Jacob Leamon raised $150.

The check will be presented to the Vermont Haiti Project sometime next week.

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