NMS students raise $1150 for Wayne Humane Society

Newark Middle School students found out that for just pennies a day, they could benefit the Wayne County Humane Society. In December, they raised $1150 for the shelter during a four-day Student Council-sponsored penny drive.

Each day, students either brought pennies to school or purchased them from Council members there who sold them. Then they gave them to a team teacher, whose job was to count them.

'Motivation was high,' Student Council advisor Terri Lagana said, 'not only because students wanted to benefit the shelter and its residents, but also because no instruction could begin in each class until all pennies were counted and wrapped during the days the fundraiser was held.'

Fingers got grimy as the 115,000 donated pennies were stacked and rolled during the drive, Lagana quipped.

Student Council members appreciated all who donated pennies and helped in other ways, especially team teachers who counted, rolled, and wrapped them.

Deb Person, sixth grade science instructor, received the most pennies. Her students, known as the Soaring Eagles, donated a record $242.86. For this achievement, these students have chosen the theme and color of their teacher's attire for January 7.

In second place were Mary Thoms's students who brought in $227.91; third-place winners were Bill Henry's students who donated $216.36. Other participating teachers included Rachel Fore, whose students contributed $148.96; Wendy Hrabak's classes brought in $133.84; and Matt Klemann's students donated $123.52.

Karen Bartholoma, Becky Avery, Mary Daly, Craig Sutherland and their students also participated, as did David Lagana, who assisted his wife in the drive by taking the pennies to the downtown branch of Community Bank. 'Tellers graciously accepted and counted our pennies at the end of the project,' Lagana said. 'Without the help of all of these people, the Newark Middle School Student Council's project of raising money to help the shelter's animals would not have been possible.'

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