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National Ministries launches Penny Project
to aid children in poverty
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| American Baptists are encouraged to collect pennies, along with other coins, for donation to organizations of their choice. |
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National Ministries launched its national Penny Project—aimed at addressing the needs of children in poverty—at the annual meeting of American Baptist Churches of Vermont and New Hampshire on June 6.
The project seeks to engage American Baptist congregations and youth groups across the country in collecting 14 million pennies to represent that same number of children, newborn to age 18, in the United States and Puerto Rico who struggle with issues related to poverty. Ultimately, the pennies will be used to raise awareness of child poverty and to aid programs that address the issue.
"We encourage American Baptist congregations and regions to support local food pantries, meal programs, homeless shelters, foster care outreach and after-school, literacy or domestic abuse prevention programs that significantly impact children in their local communities," says the Rev. Lisa R. Harris, National Ministries' acting national coordinator of Children's Ministries/Children in Poverty Initiative.
The Vermont and New Hampshire region's annual meeting was chosen as the venue to announce the project because the idea originated in New Hampshire with youth of First Baptist Church (FBC) in New London.
In 2007, these youth looked for a way to raise awareness about the number of children suffering from hunger in their state. Harris says, "They selected the penny in the hope of making that insignificant and often ignored coin a symbol and reminder of children who live in poverty and are often considered insignificant and ignored in our society. But, not only did they raise money, they also voiced their concern by meeting with their governor and state legislators."
FBC youth collected 60,000 pennies, which they donated to local food pantries and homeless shelters.
At a mission conference last year, Harris was approached by Cindy Johnson, director of FBC's Youth and Education program and Penny Project co-coordinator. "Cindy shared the project's success and the difference it made in the lives of the youth, congregation and community," Harris recalls. "She asked me if National Ministries could help them take this initiative to the national level."
The national launch included a 10-minute presentation as well as a litany written by Harris and led by one of FBC's youth. In addition, eight of the congregation's youth along with four adult leaders received certificates of recognition. "The launch recognized the youth and expressed gratitude to them for their leadership in this effort," Harris says.
American Baptists are encouraged to collect pennies, along with other coins, for donation to organizations of their choice that address childhood hunger, homelessness, illiteracy or domestic violence and that support quality health care and quality education for children in their own communities.
Join with American Baptists across the country working together to help children live their fullest lives, as God intended. Register your church group at the National Ministries' Penny Project home page. As your collection total grows, update it at the Web site where it will be added to the national total. Also send updates about who has received your collected funds and about other related efforts that you have undertaken such as advocacy through letter writing or visits to local or state policy makers.
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