Penny Drive raises money for Ronald McDonald House

Area elementary students got a lesson in money and strategy while helping raise funds for a worthwhile cause.

Megan Olson, a Kindergarten Teacher at Medford Area Elementary School, recently coordinated a Penny Drive to help support the Ronald McDonald House. Olson explains that for the week-long competition, each grade was assigned their own jar. Students brought in change from home to put in the jars. Pennies and dollar bills counted to the positive while silver-colored coins like nickels, dimes and quarters were subtracted from the total in the jars.

The goal was a simple one, be the grade that had earned the highest net amount by the end of the week. Olson said the children quickly picked up on the strategy of watching the other grade’s jars and adding nickels, dimes and quarters whenever it looked like they had too many pennies in there.

Olson noted that the 4th grade took a commanding early lead. “Fourth grade was really doing well,” she said.

However the tide turned when students in all the other grades hammered the fourth grade by loading up their jar with silver-colored coins. In the end, the fourth grade had $280 worth of nickels, dimes and quarters.

When the dust settled, the kindergartners from several different classes helped separate the pennies from the other coins. It was a good lesson on helping identify coins, including even a few Canadian ones that slipped in. Olson then took the change to Nicolet Bank.

“They were patient with me,” she said of the bank staff helping to get the coins counted and the totals tabulated.

Between all the elementary grades, a total of $3,604.04 was raised for the Ronald McDonald House. The Kindergarten class won the competition. Olson said that when they announced the winners you could hear the cheers in the office coming from the students and staff in the kindergarten hallway at MAES.

“The whole hallway was cheering,” Olson said. For their efforts, the Kindergarteners get a movie and popcorn party at Broadway Theatre and will be going to see Finding Nemo this Friday.

Beyond being a fun time for the students and lesson on helping identify coins, the penny drive also helps an important charity.

Megan said she had picked Ronald McDonald House because when she and her husband’s youngest son was born they stayed there for more than a month due to medical issues. “Other staff members and students used it as well and this is a good way to show our support,” Olson said.

“I wish I had words to explain how life changing this is for those families that need to use the RMH. Just know that I am so appreciative,” Olson stated.

“I am very appreciative of the community in both Stetsonville and Medford,” Olson said, noting she was excited to be able to drop off the donation to Ronald McDonald House.