ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, December 7, 1996 TAG: 9612090096
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG
SOURCE: LISA APPLEGATE STAFF WRITER
"Where are you going?" asked the puzzled adult as a line of chattering kindergartners, wrapped in winter coats and mittens, followed a little red wagon.
"To the bank!" screamed a bouncing blond boy by the name of Spencer Link.
"Why?" asked the adult, who now rushed to keep up with the fast-moving little feet as the line snaked across a road, through a neighborhood and past a playground.
"To count our pennies, so we can buy gifts for kids who don't have any money!" Spencer yelled, bouncing along to catch up with the little red wagon.
On the wagon sat a jiggling glass jar filled to the the brim with pennies. Exactly 11,960 pennies, in fact. And that's not counting the jingling of 2,232 dimes, nickels and quarters also on the wagon.
All this, according to the coin-counting machine at the National Bank of Blacksburg, added up to $367.68. (Including some paper money as well.)
These 80 or so kindergartners took a walking field trip from Kipps Elementary School Wednesday as the second-to-last step in a project to learn about money - and about Christmas.
The entire school helped collect the coins since October. The Bank of Blacksburg agreed to match whatever the students saved. With that total - a whopping $735.35 - the students had a chance to buy presents for underprivileged children.
Bank branch manager Joe Griffitts said his employees enjoy the children's visit more than the kids.
"Everyone loses perspective on what Christmas is all about - the giving part," he said.
In the warmth of the bank lobby, the gaggle of girls and boys sat cross-legged, munching on cookies and sipping red punch (Griffitts came prepared with carpet cleaner, just in case). As they watched hundreds coins fall through the small slot of the machine, the teachers quizzed them on how much each coin was worth.
They knew their currency, and could even identify the fancy check handed to teacher B.J. Mullins from Griffitts for the full amount.
"I want everyone to reach up your hand, reach way back, and pat yourselves on the back for such a good job," Mullins told her 5- and 6-year-old charges.
On Thursday, the group completed its project with a trip to New River Valley Mall. They purchased gifts for four children from the Salvation Army "Angel Tree."
Mullins said the group managed to supply several gifts to each child, which included a few toys, pajamas, books, clothes and stocking stuffers. What had been an empty gift box under the Angel Tree was filled to overflowing by the time the kindergartners left.
Judy Delaree, a parent volunteer who joined them on the trip, said her son David did understand why he and his classmates were collecting all those coins.
"He knows it's for needy children," she said, "but he's still not sure where the money comes from - that it doesn't just grow on trees."
Aaah, to be 5 again.
LENGTH: Medium: 68 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: Alan Kim. 1. Seated on the floor as instructed, Kippsby CNBElementary School pupils (above) watch as pennies are emptied into a
coin counter by branch manager Joe Griffitts. There were a total of
11,960 pennies. 2. Taking turns pulling and pushing the wagon loaded
with money (below), the students make their way to the National Bank
of Blacksburg. color.