Habitat for Humanity is still a long way from collecting the 10 million pennies it needs to build a home for a family in need.
Since launching the campaign in April, Habitat for Humanity Thunder Bay has 224,200 rolled pennies and tens of thousands more that need to be rolled.
Volunteers have already put in 60 hours just rolling the coins.
When it was announced the penny would be discontinued in the federal budget this spring, Habitat for Humanity saw the move as great way to fundraise.
“Bring them in and we’ll be able to build a house with those pennies,” said Diane Mitchell, Habitat for Humanity Thunder Bay CEO.
“It gives a family a house they need so desperately and it gets rid of the pennies you have laying around,” she added.
Nationally, the organization is looking to collect 690 million pennies to build a house in each affiliate.
Habitat has a house underway on Home Avenue, which will be ready for a family to move in this September. This fall they’ll build a second house on Mary Street.
Mitchell said it should be ready for a family early in the New Year.
Pennies can be dropped off at the ReStore on Squier Street or at various locations throughout the city. Visit www.habitattbay.com for more details.
