Students' coin drive nets $5,381 for veterans and elders
Arizona Coin Collector
http://www.wickedlocal.com/weymouth/news/x541370159/Students-coin-drive-nets-5-381-for-veterans-and-elders
Weymouth News - Marshfield, MA 02050
Students' coin drive nets $5,381 for veterans and elders
By Ed Baker
Fri Nov 28, 2008, 03:35 PM EST
Weymouth - A coin collection effort by local
students in all grades is helping Weymouth Elder
Services and Weymouth Veterans Division to
assist seniors and former service personnel in
need.
Both groups received $2,690.59 after school
administrators counted the coins left by the
students in collection bins during a "Pay It
Forward," campaign.
"We were able to raise $5,381," said Assistant
School Supt. Matthew Ferron during a recent
school committee meeting. "We divided the money
between Weymouth Veterans Services and Elder
Services."
The coin collection effort included greeting
cards for the veterans and active duty service
personnel that were designed by students
throughout the district.
"One of the nice scenes occurred when a student
from Pingree School carried a big heavy box full
of cards," he said. "The cards said thank you to
the service personnel and they were made by kids
from all over the district."
The greetings will be distributed to military
personnel when they return home from active duty
and to veterans during special town events .
Ferron said the financial gifts made the day for
Veterans Services Director Frank Burke and Elder
Services Director Susan Barnes.
"We have veterans that come to us that are
unemployed.," Burke said. "We can use the money
to buy food gift cards for them to use to buy
groceries while we process their application for
assistance."
He said the funds would be used to purchase
turkeys for a veteran's family that is unable to
enjoy a Christmas or Thanksgiving dinner because
of financial difficulties.
"The funds will also be used to help us perform
tasks that fall outside of our scope," Burke said.
"This is the first time we got a sizeable donation
like this. We have a couple of young families that
we will be able to help with this donation."
Barnes said the donation would help elder services
cover the cost of transporting seniors to Boston
hospitals.
"I am thrilled to accept this most generous donation
of $2,690.59 to Weymouth Elder Services medical
transportation program," she said in a statement to
the school district news letter Weymouth Pride. "It
is especially appreciated in these uncertain times
financial times. This donation will subsidize the
cost of medical transportation to Boston and
surrounding area hospitals and medical facilities
for those with no other means of transportation.
Many thanks to those who contributed to the Weymouth
Public Schools 'Pay it Forward,' spare change drive."
Barnes said the donation would allow Weymouth Elder
Services to use the proceeds it expects to collect
during an upcoming holiday party to benefit Mayor
Susan Kay's Holiday Fund Celebration to benefit
needy families and seniors.
"I am blown away by the generosity of the school
community," Burke said in Weymouth Pride. "We
have never had anyone do something like this for
our veterans and their families. This donation
will help a lot of people have a much nicer
Christmas. Thank you all. We at Veterans Services
are very thankful for your help."
..
Lorrie S.
elderly will probably only see a few dollars of it......the rest to
bureaucracy, clerical, etc.
"Arizona Coin Collector" <nos...@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:ObGdnaKIyeCV963U...@earthlink.com...