Smoky Mountain Children’s Home Receives Unique Donation
Sevierville, TN — Members from the Valley Station Church of God in Louisville, Kentucky recently visited Smoky Mountain Children’s Home bearing a most unique gift—a five-gallon galvanized bucket full of pennies, approximately twenty nine thousand (29,000), worth two hundred ninety dollars ($290).
The congregation of about fifty members wanted to do something special to help support Smoky Mountain Children’s Home and the resident children for whom they care. Church member Doug Lousch wanted to do something that would involve everyone in the church, children and adults; something in which every person could participate with ease and feel that they had contributed.
Doug Losch and Vina Duncan with the bucketful of pennies.
Thus, the idea of collecting pennies was conceived—Your Change can Change a Life!
On the first Sunday of each month, children and adults brought in their collected pennies and dumped them into the bucket, giving emphasis and recognition to Smoky Mountain Children’s Home.
When asked, “Why use a five-gallon galvanized bucket?” Losch commented, “It’s a redneck thing, but it holds a lot of pennies, too.”
Pastor Danny Morris and Losch had such an easy success with this project, working with mission’s coordinator Vina Duncan, that they are challenging other congregations in Kentucky and Tennessee to do the same.
“Our hearts go out to the ministry of the Home for Children, and I believe God’s work there is the best mission project anyone can participate in,” Losch concluded.
Dr. Coleman Peacock of the Division of Care for the Church of God said, “Collecting pennies may seem like an unusual activity to do, but pennies make dollars. And, dollars make it possible to care for the children at Smoky Mountain Children’s Home. So, the next time you see a penny laying on the sidewalk, pick it up and collect it for Smoky Mountain Children’s Home. You never know—that change could change a life!”
