What is a football field and a half long and weighs over 550 pounds?
It is $959.45 worth of pennies!
Torry and Sons customers, staff and their families, business partners and community members have generously donated their pennies, small change and even a couple of bills.
Torry and Sons topped up the collection to an even $1,000 and this has been split between You Are Not Alone and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
YANA helps local families that need to travel to access medical treatment for their children. The JDRF is dedicated to finding a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research. Both charities were presented with $500 last week.
When it was announced that pennies were no longer being minted and soon to be out of circulation, Rebecca Nelson of the accounting department at Torry and Sons had a brilliant idea: Before the pennies meet their demise — donate them to help kids live healthy and fulfilling lives!
Rebecca’s nephew Cooper has Type 1 Diabetes; getting kids the help they need when they need it is a cause that is very important to her. Rebecca’s great idea blossomed from considering a personal donation to involving the entire community.
Torry and Sons approached their business and community partners to help collect pennies from their staff, customers and friends. The request was met with an overwhelming positive response.
A huge amount of gratitude goes to the following businesses and their customers who participated: Kinetic Construction, Atlas Café, Presley and Partners, Union Street Grill, SureCopy, BuildingLinks, visitors to YANA, Odlum Brown, Vancouver Island InsuranCentre, Slegg Lumber, London Drugs, Northern Reflections, Colonial Countertops, Westburne Electric and Valley Care Medical.
Brian Farnham, co-owner of Torry and Sons Plumbing and Heating said, “The commitment of our staff, the community and our business partners to our fundraising effort was incredibly generous. We were pleased to have the opportunity to help these very admirable charities doing great work for kids.”
Torry and Sons Plumbing and Heating Ltd was established in the Comox Valley in 1981. Red Seal certified technicians provide new full mechanical packages and repair services for residential and commercial applications.
Offices are located in Courtenay, Nanaimo and Victoria to service projects in B.C. and Alberta.
— Torry and Sons