Westside students join penny hunt

When it comes to feeding the hungry, every penny counts. That was the lesson that Greenbrier Westside Elementary third-graders learned during the Great Arkansas Penny Hunt. Sponsored by the Arkansas Rice Depot, the penny hunt encourages children to bring pennies to school in an effort to provide for children that are less fortunate.

According to Patsy McMillen, who coordinated Westside's participation in the event, the penny hunt is all about kids helping kids. "We really wanted the kids to help other children who are hungry. There are kids that wake-up hungry every day and that's hard. It affects their schoolwork."

McMillen added that it just takes a few pennies to make a difference in a child's life. One hundred pennies provides enough food for one day. Seven hundred pennies provides enough food for an entire weekend and 500 pennies can provide a backpack. "All of the food is sent home in a child's backpack, so there is privacy for the child."

The six third-grade classes collected over 4200 pennies in two weeks. Melinda Hollenbaugh's class won a nacho party from the Arkansas Rice Depot for raising $148.00, the most of any of the classes. They also received a trophy, and the Arkansas Rice Depot also donated a large box of school supplies to the 3rd grade for the participation. "The kids were just really excited about the penny hunt," Hollenbaugh said. "It's just been a lot of fun." McMillen adds, "We're really happy to be able to do this and I know we're going to want to participate again."

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