Schools bring in pennies for peace

Danielle Switalski

Something as simple as a penny can make a remarkable difference, which is what John Meckler, retired Plains school teacher, is trying to get across to students and the local community. 

On Monday, Jan. 4, Meckler started Pennies for Peace in the schools for the second year in a row.  Pennies for Peace is an international service-learning movement that raises money for educational purposes in Pakistan and Afghanistan.  Every penny goes towards school supplies, building school facilities and other resources in impoverished areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan.  

Pennies for Peace was founded in 1994 by Greg Mortenson.  Mortenson started the project to help impoverished areas of Pakistan after getting lost there while climbing K2, the second highest mountain in the world.  Having stumbled upon the Korphe village, a few locals helped him recuperate and get back to health.  After noticing the village did not have a school, he made a promise to return and help the community build an educational facility.  

This is where Pennies for Peace comes in, a fundraiser that started in a  school in River Fall, Wisconsin in 1994 and has since expanded globally.

“It’s something that has been growing every year and keeps getting bigger and bigger,” said Meckler. 

Meckler said the idea to implement Pennies for Peace in Plains schools has been in the back of his mind since he heard Mortenson speak at a conference for the Library Association. 

“Greg was a very powerful speaker, but I didn’t implement it right away until after I retired and had the time, but it was always in the back of my head as something to do,” said Meckler. 

Meckler has set up penny jars in every elementary classroom in Plains schools and has a jar in the library in Plains high school.  Daily announcements will be made in the high school to remind students to bring their pennies in for donation.  The fundraiser will go throughout the entire month of January and Meckler is currently on the search to find businesses also willing to host a Pennies for Peace jar. 

Last year, the schools and community raised over $1,500 through the program, a large number seeing as most of the money came from penny donations.

“I was really surprised how well we did last year considering the economy,” said Meckler, who is hoping to “meet or beat” the amount raised last year. 

Mortenson’s book Three Cups of Tea depicts his trip through Pakistan when he first realized the lack of educational facilities throughout the area. 

To learn more information on Pennies for Peace, please visit www.powerofapenny.org or contact John Meckler at Plains high school at 826-3666 to learn more about hosting a jar or donation opportunities.

Comments can be directed to Reporter Danielle Switalski by emailing her at reporter@VP-MI.ocm or by calling her at 826-3402.