I would like to share my pennies for Christmas story.
It all started when my mother passed away early in the morning on Christmas (Dec. 25, 1982). In her loving memory I started collecting pennies and every Christmas I faithfully rolled and donated $25 in pennies to the Salvation Army.
I continued to collect the pennies and donated them each Christmas for 12 years until my father passed away on Dec. 21, 1994.
I have this feeling I could have been the original person to start the pennies for Christmas especially since I started collecting them 29 years ago. I am glad it caught on and that more people are doing this. It is a good thing to help out the less fortunate at Christmas time.
Tamara Shiels
Victoria
Editor’s note: You too can help raise money for local charities. Drop off your spare change to the Black Press Pennies for Presents drive at 818 Broughton St. and at the Goldstream News Gazette, 117-777 Goldstream Ave. in Langford.