Canadian students have already collected over 32 elephants… or at least their weight in pennies – that’s 70 million pennies. It’s all for Free the Children and RBC’s joint campaign, the “We Create Change” penny drive.
The penny was officially phased out Monday, so Free the Children and RBC are calling for youth and their families to get their pennies together in support of the Water Initiative, which helps people in developing countries that do not have access to clean water. From now until Saturday, February 9, you can drop off any loose pennies to your local RBC branch – no need to roll or bag them. Following this week-long event, RBC branches will continue to accept penny bags and rolled pennies.
Throughout this school year, Canadian youth and educators, individual donors, businesses and organizations have filled special penny bags as part of “We Create Change”. One filled bag amounts to $25 in pennies which is able to provide a source of clean water to one person in a developing country for life.
To date, the Water Initiative has raised enough money to provide permanent clean water sources to more than 65,000 people through donations, the penny drive and proceeds from sales of Me to We’s Water Rafiki Friend Chains.
“The 70 million pennies collected so far show just how enthusiastically Canada’s youth have taken this campaign to heart. Our penny drive isn’t over yet,” said Free the Children co-founder Craig Kielburger.
Now that’s a perfect send off for the penny!