Penny Wars begin again to help a child in need

“Penny Wars” is an activity of excitement, stealth, and laughter that brightens the winter evenings in the classrooms of St. Mary’s Cathedral in Fargo on Religious Education nights, while providing for the less fortunate halfway around the world. With Penny Wars, each class is presented a bucket in which the classmates individually contribute pennies and paper money to their bucket. Other classes, however, can add silver coins to opposing classroom buckets, which subtract the value from the pennies and paper money of the bucket. The class that raises the most money, after the silver amount is subtracted, is rewarded with a pizza party. The “war” in this situation, is a playful battle to contribute the most money for a child in need. 

In Guatemala a young boy named Melvin lives in an uneven one-room structure composed of mud and metal sheets with his grandparents, who have raised him after his parents abandoned him during infancy. Melvin’s family use their neighbor’s toilet and bathing area since they do not have one. While his grandfather provides by working in the fields, Melvin helps his grandmother by gathering firewood to sell in bundles, which is not only a job but a hobby for Melvin. Currently in sixth grade, he walks a kilometer to and from school every day. His clothes and shoes are worn out from daily use and long walks. 

 This is where St. Mary’s Wednesday night Religious Education classrooms come to aid through their Penny Wars program. In a partnership with the international nonprofit, Unbound, St. Mary’s youth have sponsored children for several years. Melvin has been their sponsored friend for three years. Last year, Penny Wars became very competitive and exceeded expectations with funds reaching nearly $3,000 dollars, all given for Melvin’s needs. 

Local staff from Unbound confirmed several challenges that impacted Melvin and his family’s quality of life via a letter expressing gratefulness and how the funds were used. Along with continuing support with Melvin’s education and food assistance, Melvin’s home was transformed beginning with replacing the dirt floor with a cement one, replacing the damaged sheet metal of the walls and roof, and adding a room for a toilet and bathing area. The remaining funds provided a bed for Melvin, a bed for his grandparents, clothing, school supplies, furniture, as well as food and firewood for cooking. 

A depth of silence was felt when Melvin’s letter was read in the classrooms of St. Mary’s and a great pause of thankfulness. “I am grateful to God for having you as my sponsors,” Melvin wrote to St. Mary’s RE students, “thank you very much for the support you send me because it has helped me in my studies so I can pass the grade. Also, with this help we bought groceries that we shared with my grandparents. Also, I got sick with the flu, so we bought medicine…. I am very grateful to the children of the parish who have sponsored me. I hope that God can bless those children and their families.” 

Penny Wars began again this Lent. On Wednesday nights, the classrooms are excited and eager to contribute coins to theirs and other classroom buckets, trying to bury the others in silver currency while providing pennies and paper cash to their own. 

Some responses from the students are: 

“I would feel amazing knowing that people I have never met are caring for me!” 

“I can’t believe we could help him so much!” 

“I have it pretty nice!” 

Penny Wars remains a playful competition between classes as well as a golden opportunity for children to provide for another. Along with their parents’ support and encouragement, it provides a good opportunity for children to grow in gratitude and awareness of those who are less fortunate.