The Salvation Army is hoping Langley residents will look under the couch cushions, in old jam jars, piggy banks and wallets and hand over their one cent coins in an effort to help those who don’t have two pennies to rub together.
The last penny was minted in June and starting in September, businesses are being asked to return one cent coins to financial institutions. The pennies will be melted down and the metal content recycled.
Consumers will see their purchases rounded up or down, depending on the cents it costs. In the meantime, the one cent coin will retain its value, but eventually it will go out of circulation.
“This is one way the community can get rid of their pennies and help us with our ever-growing needs,” said Gateway of Hope Major James Hagglund.
“The need is much greater than we anticipated.”
Starting on the weekend and going until Aug. 31, the Gateway of Hope will begin their penny drive.
People can drop off pennies at the Canadian Tire, Otter Co-Op, the Langley Times office and at the shelter.
“We take other types of money, too, and people can donate online at the gatewayofhope.ca or with their mobile device at gatewayofhope.tel.
Hagglund said there is “a lot of hope being resurrected here.”
Nearly 90 per cent of graduates from the cook training program have jobs now, he said.
Two people in the shelter’s opportunities program have just graduated and are moving out on their own and are employed, said penny drive organizer and Gateway of Hope director Troy Gaglardi.
“I was talking to them and they don’t have a feeling like they are being pushed out, they want to go. These are people that came in and felt they had nothing to offer,” said Gaglardi.
The need is growing in Langley, said Hagglund.
Even with warm weather, the emergency shelter is running at 105 per cent. More than 100 community members come daily for the hot meal.
