The Coin Collector’s Blog is a proud supporter of Common Cents®, an educational, not-for-profit organization, which specializes in creating and managing service-learning programs for young people. Their most popular and best known program is the . It is largest child philanthropy program in the United States.
This past fiscal year, Common Cents reported that “hundreds of thousands of students who participated in the Penny Harvest program last year, collecting and giving away $756,273.19 to charities.” For those who think the lowly copper-coated zinc cent is worthless, that is over 75 million coins collected by students in Metropolitan New York City, the New York Capital Region, Ohio, Florida, and Seattle to benefit causes around the world. In addition to charitable giving, the many of the students involved in the Penny Harvest participated in “service-learning projects, such as block clean-ups and literacy programs.”
I became interested in Common Cents when the Penny Harvest Field was set up in Rockefeller Center and featured on NBC Nightly News in 2007. Although I was unable to visit New York City to see this in person, it was quite a site on television. A year later after reading their annual report and talking with a teacher who was involved with the Penny Harvest, I made Common Cents the Official Charity of the Coin Collector’s Blog.
To better understand how lives can be touched not only by those receiving the help but by those working to provide the help, I found this video of Savion, a student from P.S. 163 Alfred E. Smith School, a multi-cultural school located on Manhattan’s upper west side.
As we approach the holiday season, I am asking my readers to please consider helping Common Cents with a donation to help them continue with the Penny Harvest. Also, if you live in an area where the Penny Harvest is not located, please consider getting involved and maybe start a Penny Harvest to your area. In fact, sign up for their mailing list and when you answer question 3 at the bottom of the page, click on at least one of the first three options and see if we can get the Penny Harvest working in more locations!
Charity is good for the soul!
Charity supported by children is not only good for the soul but a sign of a positive future for this nation.
Please support Common Cents and the Penny Harvest.
Videos courtesy of Common Cents.
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