Students at the Queen Anne Community School and Young Child Academy donated $1,000 to the YWCA of Seattle, King and Snohomish counties to support services for homeless children last month. The students raised the money themselves through a Penny Harvest, proving that even something as small as a penny can make a difference in a community.
Students from Queen Anne Community School and Young Child Academy present $1,000 check to YWCA Community Engagement Director Liz Mills.
After raising the funds, the students set out to decide which community issue they were going to tackle with their pennies. Project committee members, ranging from 3 to 8 years old, interviewed fellow classmates, teachers and and representatives from several organizations to figure out where they wanted to give—ultimately deciding to help homeless children through the YWCA.
“The kids did some research on the issues and presented that for each other and really advocated for the ones that they thought were most important, and then everybody voted,” Queen Anne school second grade teacher and Penny Harvest coach Ilsa Govan said in a press release.
The $1,000 donation will be split down the middle, half supporting the YWCA Emergency Shelter in downtown Seattle, and the other half supporting the YWCA School Days program, which provides backpacks and school supplies for homeless and low-income children in King and Snohomish counties.
As part of the fundraiser several Queen Anne students were able to tour the YWCA Emergency Shelter and see how their pennies will directly help those in need.
“It feels good to give money away to others,” preschooler Ben said in a statement.