Pennies for Ponies
Is the U.S. penny obsolete? Is there anything that can be bought with just a single penny? How many pickle pails would it take to hold $556.18 worth of pennies? These questions and others were recently considered by seventh and eighth graders attending the Windham, Maine Middle School. As part of lessons in science, math, and a friendly competition involving community service, the students, their families, school faculty and staff began collecting pennies to support the MSSPA. The project, called “Pennies for Ponies,” was spearheaded by an energetic teacher’s aide, Mrs. Mary Bugg, with the help of students and teachers.
Each class designated a person to collect the pennies that were brought in for the cause. The bookkeeping was extreme! Dozens of tally sheets and lists of who brought how many pennies on any given day were created and kept with the ever-expanding boxes, jars, buckets, and pickle pails of pennies, pennies and more pennies. Some of the classes made field trips to the Society’s River Road farm to learn about the mission of the Society and the many animals who pass through its doors each year. No other public charity in Maine serves as many large animals, primarily horses, as the MSSPA.
The State of Maine does not operate any animal shelters; that mission has long been the province of private, non-profit organizations like the MSSPA. Although there are numerous shelters across Maine caring for dogs, cats, and other small companion animals, there are very few facilities able to provide for the starving or mistreated large animals that are seized each year by law enforcement officials. Windham’s MSSPA is the oldest and largest equine rescue and rehabilitation facility in New England.
Just prior to the start of April’s school vacation week, Mrs. Bugg contacted the MSSPA and invited its representatives to visit the school and receive the amazing amount of money collected by Windham Middle School pupils. The records they kept showed that the winning group collected more than $90.00 in pennies.
Pail #1 - Mrs. Ruth 94.59
Pail #2 - Mrs. Pellerin 7.65
Pail #3 - Mrs. Vargo-Ward 15.80
Pail #4 - Mrs. Berry 57.30
Pail #5 - Mrs. Brown 37.50
Pail #6 - Mrs. Hurgin / Mrs. Engelberger (combined) 114.16
Pail #7 - Ms. Bongiavanni 21.00
Maura Gallagher, a long time supporter of the Society was recognized as the student raising and donating the most pennies. Maura donated her personal penny collection that contained more than $90.00 in coins. In recognition of their outstanding collection efforts, Mrs. Ruth’s class was given the opportunity to meet with Society staffers Meris Bickford and Tina Bailey and receive their personal thanks. Meris spoke with the students, many of whom shared their personal experiences with animals. Middle School students Matt and Ryan helped Mrs. Bugg create the giant paper check that was presented to the Society. Then, using lots of muscle and creative techniques that would have made any physics teacher proud, everyone worked to move the pickle pails (courtesy of the cafeteria staff!) out to Meris’ car for transport to a local bank. From there the pennies will go via armored car to a central processing location for amount verification and rolling.
The Society is proud to be a community institution in South Windham, where it has been headquartered since 1974. That year, Board President Lawrence J. Keddy bought the attractive property on which the farm is located and donated it to the Society. Prior to 1974 the MSSPA had its primary office in Portland, Maine. The MSSPA was founded in 1872 to provide life after service care to the horses who then pulled the City’s fire engines and street cars.
On behalf of the animals served by the Society, thank you to the Windham Middle School students, their families, teachers and staff. Now there is proof that pennies are not obsolete and they can add up to something worthwhile; pennies can help save the lives of abused and neglected animals here in Maine. Please click here to view the gallery of photos.