8-year-old carts coins to toy drive
Arizona Coin Collector
http://www.newarkadvocate.com/article/20081222/UPDATES01/81222028
8-year-old carts coins to toy drive
By RUSS ZIMMER
Advocate Reporter
December 22, 2008
NEWARK - If he keeps up this pace, young Jason Woods
is going to need a handcart next year to transport
the thousands of coins he saved for underprivileged
children.
On Monday morning, 8-year-old Woods personally
delivered a dozen jars of assorted coins to Newark
Police Chief Steven Sarver for deposit into the
NPD's Toy Drive fund.
Woods brought in more than a $100 in quarters,
dimes and nickels in addition to an uncounted number
of pennies in jar after jar, grandmother Charlene
Woods said. Fran Heimerl said Woods trucked in almost
$80 in mostly pennies last year.
Charlene Woods said her grandson raided his own
account to supplement the coins he had set aside for
the NPD's toy drive.
"He's decided he wants to keep doing it," she said,
adding he's already started saving for next year.
"He's decided everybody should have Christmas, even
big kids."
Jason raised the money through his allowance, chores
and family and friends, his grandmother said.
With the economy struggling, Charlene Woods said she
and her grandson have discussed the tough times and
its only made Jason more resolute to raise more
and more.
"He understands the true value of the dollar,"
she said.
This is the NPD's 29th annual toy drive. Last year
it brought children's gifts to more than 200
families, Heimerl, NPD account clerk, said.
All of Jason's gift will be used to purchase
presents as the department prepares to serve at
least as many families as in 2007, she added.
Sarver said that programs like the toy drive offer
a chance for officers to connect with the
community in a non-traditional way.
Generally speaking, the chief said that those
benefiting from the holiday initiative have the
most "negative" contact with the force.
"They get to see us in a different
light. ... Police officers aren't always the
bad guy," he said.
For more information on the department's toy
drive contact Heimerl or Cheri Caudell at
(740) 670-7215.
Russ Zimmer can be reached at (740) 328-8548
or razi...@newarkadvocate.com .
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