|
 A
popsicle party was more than enough incentive for the students at
Matthys Elementary to collect pennies for a great cause. After two weeks
of vigorous collecting and motivating, the students and teachers have
collected over 37,000 pennies for care packages sent to military
personnel overseas.
As one would expect, the first week’s collection of 11,096 pennies was
sure to be the most successful week of the drive. However, the following
week, the piggybank was bursting with 26,096 pennies and other coins,
surpassing all expectations. Each day, the school’s Safety Patrol would
travel the halls collecting the pennies from each class. “Walking around
and collecting pennies from the classes was lots of fun,” student Alexis
Rodriguez said.
In cooperation with Operation Interdependence, Norma Rodriguez-Garcia,
Matthys’ peer facilitator, worked with Chaplin Paul R. Renfro of
Operation Interdependence to ensure the success of the care packages.
For many students, filling the bags with various items such as
toothpaste, snacks, and soap in an assembly line fashion was their
favorite part of the project. “Putting the packages together in a
structured assembly line taught the students organization as well as
teamwork,” Rodriguez-Garcia said.
Fourth grade students had much to say about the project. Marcelo Treviņo,
one of the leading penny collectors, said “putting the bags together and
delivering them to Renfro” was definitely his best experience. Danny
Cruz and Ivan Lopez enjoyed filling the bags and writing the thank you
letters to the troops that were also placed inside the care packages.
Irma Gutierrez was especially excited about “sending the troops good
snacks” because she currently has a family member stationed overseas.
Gabriel Ledesma felt good about “being able to help others through the
project.”
Members of the safety patrol credit much of their success to the parents
and faculty for getting so involved. Surpassing all expectations the
project benefited not only the soldiers but the students as well. To
Rodriguez-Garcia, “this is an experience the kids will never forget.” |