I checked the coin counting machines in the lobby at two of my local banks. Both machines showed that I had put less money in than I actually had. It was not much but take that times the amount of coins you are talking and it could mean a lot of money,
Our school has run a fairly successful coin drive every year for several years. Around $1300 raised last year. Simple, effective.. BRING IN YOUR COINS. ANY COINS!
Here's the steps I consider worth knowing:
1) BE specific in your goal, we usually raise money for playground equipment. The kids are more motivated by this than say a more general 'education fund' or even grounds improvement. This year we're approved for a Tire Swing!
2) Give it some urgency. Only allow 2 weeks start to completion. (and with the contest involved-see below that helps as well)
3) Make it a contest between classes. Each year our PTO pays for a limo ride for the winning class to ride to a local pizza restaurant. The total cost is around $250 but it's unusual and memorable for the kids! (2nd place gets an in-class popcorn movie party).
4) This year we are adding an additional 'online donation' option. We will use WePay in order to bring in alumni parents and community members to join in the drive.
We want to do it as a boys rule, girls rule-- 2 large water jugs in the library-- with a special prize going to one of the groups--- pennies meant take away-- silver coins were to be collected and counted- and then the pennies were counted and subtracted ---
looking to sponsored an endangered animal with the funds collected-- that way the whole school won out-- but one group got the rights to brag...
Just did a coin drive and brought in over 3000 for our charity. We did a different coin each day - started with pennies then nickels dimes and final 2 days quarters. Another area school has kids shoot their quarters into baketball hoops. I think they avg about 500 for the week. We ran our coins to the bank each day and they ran it thru machine for free. We collected each class in a large ziploc because we were overflowing the jars. All the ziplocs were brought to one class and they were run to bank. It was heavy but worth it. We took in $300 in pennies on first day alone and then it just grew each day People don't think twice abt parting with change. We went to great lengths to connect kids to the charity the week before and then we stepped back and they did everything except the drive to bank. Good luck!
We did a coin drive and the kids loved it. We enlisted the help of the room parents to do collection. Some of the teachers in the younger grades incorporated the collection into the curriculum- estimating, money math etc. We used utz large pretzel containers. Like laura out local bank let us do the coin counting for free. My advice is not to limit it to pennies. Ask parents to consider donating their dryer change. It all adds up and is a simple way to raise some good money. Good luck.
Thanks to all that jumped over from our Facebook page! Jennifer- I also posted your question on Facebook... you can check out the
Facebook replies here
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