BENNINGTON — Molly Stark Elementary School students collected pennies, nickels and dimes this fall — all they could muster — and raised over $500 to help heat local homes this winter.

“It was so great to see the excitement coming from the kids to do this for others in our community,” said Molly Stark Principal Donna Bazyk. “They were so excited to know how much money was there and what was going to happen. I am so very proud of these kids. This task of helping others really brought a sense of community within our whole school.”

The Molly Stark students raised exactly $568.02, mostly from penny jars and loose change that the kids collected themselves. The money was then donated to BROC Community Action, a local organization that assists Vermonters with heating bills in partnership with the state of Vermont in the cold winter months, as well as other programs to help in-need Vermonters.

Source: Winter warmth from children’s hearts; Molly Stark students donate to keep local homes heated