Pants pockets, the car’s cup holder, or even from between the couch cushions – regardless of where it came from, loose change is helping students at West Middle be the change they want to see in the world. The effort is called “Coins for Kindness” and is meant to help families of children with cancer.
“It is easy because you don’t have to bring in dollars or a certain amount, you can just bring in any coins that you find in your house,” said WMS 8th grader Grayson Kollar. “No matter what you bring, you can help.”
This is the 4th year of Coins for Kindness, an initiative started by West Middle School teacher Tara Busch and her family through their non-profit Super Cooper Saves the Day. It’s all in memory of her four-year-old son, Cooper, who passed away in 2018 after a courageous battle with leukemia.
Throughout February – the Month of Kindness – donations are made by dropping whatever you can spare into the small buckets scattered throughout 28 schools in Broome County. When all the buckets are collected, the money helps purchase meals for families spending time with their children in the hospital.
“Hospitals provide a meal for the patient, but not for the family,” Busch said. “So, any time meal time comes, you have to leave the room, even if you’re just going to the hospital cafeteria or a nearby restaurant, you have to leave. Our meals are delivered right to the room.”
Tara Busch brought the idea to her students at West Middle School; without hesitation they jumped at the opportunity to help lead the effort. Over its first three years, the initiative has raised approximately $26 thousand across the 28 schools in which buckets are placed. At the conclusion of this year’s coin drive, Busch and her students expect to add another $10 thousand collected from all the schools to that total.
“It’s a nice thing to do because you never really know what someone is going through,” said WMS 8th grade student Ariana Yurka. “You feel like you make a difference, like a little can go a long way.”
Meals purchased with the funds will go to families with children receiving care at Golisano Children’s Hospital in Syracuse. More than 300 meals have been donated to date, showing that a few cents can add up to a big difference.